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In music, the term '''interval''' is used to characterize the relation between simultaneous or successive tones.
{{Wikipedia|Interval (music)}}
{{Wikipedia|Dyad (music)}}
An '''interval''' or '''dyad''' (less commonly, '''diad''') is a [[chord]] of two different notes.


If the name "interval" is taken as a starting point, the term initially aims to determine the [[pitch difference]] between the two sound phenomena involved. At the same time (with otherwise relatively stable [[timbre]]s) a specific character of the joint sound results from a given distance between the participating tones, which is (in classic Western music theory) often graduated between [[consonance]] and [[dissonance]]).
The main property of an interval is its size, defined as the difference in [[pitch]] between its two notes. Since pitch perception is logarithmic, an interval can be described with a [[ratio|frequency ratio]] or a logarithmic measure of that ratio, such as [[cent]]s. Intervals are usually named after their size, which might explain why some dictionaries define the term ''interval'' as the size itself.
 
An interval is rational if its ratio is a rational number, and its logarithmic measure is necessarily irrational. Conversely, an interval is irrational if its frequency ratio is an irrational number; in that case, however, its logarithmic measure may or may not be rational. An interval with a rational logarithmic measure is always irrational, but some intervals have both irrational ratios and logarithmic measures.
 
Another property is [[harmonic entropy]], a measure of concordance, which is usually associated with [[sonance|consonance and dissonance]].


== See also ==
== See also ==
* [[Gallery of just intervals]]
* [[Gallery of just intervals]]
* [[Interval size measure]]
* [[Interval size measure]]
* [[Sonance]]
== External links ==
* [[Wikipedia: Interval (music)]]


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[[Category:Terms]]
[[Category:Terms]]
[[Category:Interval| ]] <!-- main article -->


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Revision as of 21:15, 4 September 2021

English Wikipedia has an article on:
English Wikipedia has an article on:

An interval or dyad (less commonly, diad) is a chord of two different notes.

The main property of an interval is its size, defined as the difference in pitch between its two notes. Since pitch perception is logarithmic, an interval can be described with a frequency ratio or a logarithmic measure of that ratio, such as cents. Intervals are usually named after their size, which might explain why some dictionaries define the term interval as the size itself.

An interval is rational if its ratio is a rational number, and its logarithmic measure is necessarily irrational. Conversely, an interval is irrational if its frequency ratio is an irrational number; in that case, however, its logarithmic measure may or may not be rational. An interval with a rational logarithmic measure is always irrational, but some intervals have both irrational ratios and logarithmic measures.

Another property is harmonic entropy, a measure of concordance, which is usually associated with consonance and dissonance.

See also