Interval spelling game
Interval Leap: learn to write intervals on the staff
You see a note and a challenge, like "a major 3rd above". Place the answer on the staff, spelled correctly. Start with major and perfect intervals and work up to augmented and diminished, going up and down.
Free to play. No account or download. Works on computers, tablets, and phones.
How it works
- Tap or click the staff to place your note, and drag to move it. On a keyboard, the up and down arrows move it and Enter checks your answer.
- From the Minor intervals level on, add a sharp or flat with the buttons under the staff.
- Spelling counts. F♯ and G♭ sound the same, but only one of them is the right answer, and the game tells you when you picked the right sound with the wrong letter.
- Every answer comes with the reason, like "D up to F♯: D-E-F is a 3rd, and 4 half steps makes it major."
- Ten questions a round, switching between treble and bass clef. Score 8 out of 10 to open the next level.
- The cheatsheet explains how to count and spell each interval. It stays with you on every level except Maestro mode.
What you'll practice
Major, minor, and perfect
Start with major and perfect intervals. Each level opens when you score 8 of 10 on the one before it.
- First leapsMajor 3rd, perfect 5th, and octave, plus the odd unison
- More major and perfectMajor 2nd, perfect 4th, major 6th, and major 7th
- Major and perfect mixEvery major and perfect interval, going up
- Minor intervalsMinor 2nd, 3rd, 6th, and 7th, with sharps and flats
- Major, minor, and perfectEverything so far, going up
- Going downEverything so far, placed below the note
- Up and downEverything so far, in both directions
Augmented and diminished
Intervals stretched or squeezed by a half step. These open one by one after Up and down.
- DiminishedDiminished 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 7th
- AugmentedAugmented 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 6th
- Diminished practiceMostly diminished, mixed with earlier intervals
- Augmented practiceMostly augmented, mixed with earlier intervals
- Altered, going downAugmented and diminished, placed below the note
- Altered, both waysAugmented and diminished, up and down
Maestro mode Premium
Any interval within an octave, from any starting note.
- Maestro: going upAny interval within an octave, above the note
- Maestro: going downAny interval within an octave, below the note
- Maestro: free for allAny interval, up and down mixed
How to spell an interval in two steps
1. Count the letters for the number
Count both notes. C up to E is C-D-E: three letters, so it is a 3rd. This step tells you which line or space the answer goes on before you think about sharps or flats.
2. Count the half steps for the quality
C up to E is 4 half steps, a major 3rd. Lower the E to E♭ and it is 3 half steps, a minor 3rd. It stays on the same line, because it is still a 3rd.
Half steps in each interval
| Interval | Half steps | Example from C |
|---|---|---|
| Minor 2nd | 1 | C to D♭ |
| Major 2nd | 2 | C to D |
| Minor 3rd | 3 | C to E♭ |
| Major 3rd | 4 | C to E |
| Perfect 4th | 5 | C to F |
| Augmented 4th / diminished 5th | 6 | C to F♯ / C to G♭ |
| Perfect 5th | 7 | C to G |
| Minor 6th | 8 | C to A♭ |
| Major 6th | 9 | C to A |
| Minor 7th | 10 | C to B♭ |
| Major 7th | 11 | C to B |
| Octave | 12 | C to C |
The major scale shortcut
Going up, the major and perfect intervals land on the notes of the bottom note's major scale. A major 3rd above D is F♯, because D major has F♯. This is why knowing your key signatures from Key Sprint makes Interval Leap much easier.
One half step changes the quality
2nds, 3rds, 6ths, and 7ths go diminished, minor, major, augmented. Unisons, 4ths, 5ths, and octaves go diminished, perfect, augmented.
Going down
Count the letters downward. E down to C is E-D-C, a 3rd.
Free and Premium
Free
Major, minor, and perfect intervals going up and down, then augmented and diminished. Each level opens at 8 of 10.
Premium $9.99, one time
Leap Maestro: any interval in any direction, plus every level open from day one.
Questions
How is this different from Ear Detective?
Interval Leap trains your eyes and your theory: you write intervals on the staff. Ear Detective trains your ears: you hear two notes and name the interval. They work well together.
What should I know before I start?
It works best after the sharps and flats levels in Clef Quest and the All major keys level in Key Sprint.
Are double sharps and double flats included?
Not at this time. Every answer needs at most one sharp or flat. Future versions of Notelings may include double-sharps and double-flats training.
Is Interval Leap free?
Yes. All 13 levels of major, minor, perfect, augmented, and diminished intervals are free. Premium opens every level from day one and adds three Maestro levels with any interval from any starting note.
Keep going
Hear what you've been writing in Ear Detective. Premium also includes a printable interval chart with every interval from a unison to an octave.