Simple intervals are not larger than an octave, while compound intervals are larger than an octave. Ninths, tenths, elevenths and thirteenths are examples of compound intervals. Octaves, thirds and fifths are simple intervals.

Every compound interval is related to a simple interval. If you subtract 7 from a compound interval, you get the corresponding simple interval. For example, 9 - 7 = 2, so a ninth is related to a second. A compound interval has the same quality as the simple interval to which it is related. Here are some examples of compound intervals and their related simple intervals:

See Reading Music in the Tutorials section.




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José Rodríguez Alvira.