Introduction
Intervals can be classified into three categories:
- Perfect Consonance;
- Imperfect Consonance; and
- Dissonant.
(Aside: The consonance or dissonance of an interval depends on its place in the overtone series. I will cover this is a separate course.)
Dissonant Intervals
The intervals are classified as follows:
| Perfect Consonance | Imperfect Consonance | Dissonance |
|---|---|---|
| Perfect Unison | Minor 3rd | Minor 2nd |
| Perfect Octave | Major 3rd | Major 2nd |
| Perfect 5th | Minor 6th | Minor 7th |
| Perfect 4th | Major 6th | Major 7th |
| Tritone | ||
| Minor 9th (8av + semitone) |
(Aside: Consonance and dissonance is subjective, some people classify the Perfect 4th as imperfect or dissonant; and others classify the Major 2nd and minor 7th as imperfect.)
You can use dissonant intervals to build tension in your solo and then resolve the tension by retreating to a consonant interval (or a Guide Tone).