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So far, we've looked at every interval with the root note on the bottom. But what happens if we move the root note up an octave?
Every interval has a counterpart. Fortunately, there's nothing new you need to memorize for this, we're just going to pair up the intervals that we already know!
Have a look at the image here. We have a root note, the Perfect 5th above it, and then the root note is moved up an octave, over that Perfect 5th.
What interval is created between the notes played on the A and D strings?
It's a Perfect 4th! But this time, the root note is on top.
In this way, a Perfect 5th can be transformed into a Perfect 4th. The two intervals can be thought of as being "linked" in this sense.
Here, we can see the opposite circumstance.
We start with a regular Perfect 4th interval, with the root note on the bottom.
When we move the root note up an octave, we find a Perfect 5th interval relationship between the upper two notes, with the root note on the top this time!
So, this "Interval Inversion" idea works both ways. By reordering the notes, you can change a Perfect 5th to a Perfect 4th, and vice versa.
Understanding this concept will broaden your options for building chords, and playing as a whole.
Now we know that the Perfect 5th and 4th are linked. But what about the other intervals? Here's a full list:
Minor 2nd inverts to a Major 7th.
Major 2nd inverts to a Minor 7th.
Minor 3rd inverts to a Major 6th.
Major 3rd inverts to a Minor 6th.
Perfect 4th inverts to a Perfect 5th.
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Perfect 5th inverts to a Perfect 4th.
Minor 6th inverts to a Major 3rd.
Major 6th inverts to a Minor 3rd.
Minor 7th inverts to a Major 2nd.
Major 7th inverts to a Minor 2nd.
Fortunately, we don't need to use rote memorization to remember all of that. There's a few simple rules to follow to get it right every time.
First, if you add together the values of the interval and it's inversion, it will always add up to 9.
For example, Minor 3rd inverts to Major 6th. 3 + 6 = 9.
Perfect 5th to Perfect 4th? 5 + 4 = 9!
Second, Minor will invert to Major, and Major will invert to Minor. Perfect stays Perfect.
That's it! If you can remember those rules, you'll be able to always invert an interval correctly.
Now that you know the rules for inverting intervals, try it out on a handful of different ones. Once you get comfortable with this sort of movement, you'll be better able to visualize notes below the root note, instead of being stuck always working above it!
Remember, the root note doesn't need to be the lowest note you play. It just needs to be the note the song is centered around.
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