intervallic

Intervallic is an adjective meaning related to intervals, especially in music theory. An interval is the pitch distance between two notes. Intervallic descriptions emphasize the size and sequence of those distances, rather than the absolute pitch names or key centers.

In melodic analysis, intervallic content refers to the pattern of steps and leaps that make up a line. Common interval classes include seconds, thirds, fourths, and so on, and the overall intervallic contour shapes melody and its direction. Because interval sizes are preserved under transposition, intervallic patterns can be moved to different keys while retaining their character.

In harmony and chordal music, intervallic structures arise from stacking intervals to form chords and progressions. For example, a major triad is defined by a major third plus a minor third from the root to the third and fifth, respectively. In more advanced contexts, such as serialism, composers may use intervallic rows or sets that organize pitch material by specific interval relationships rather than by absolute pitch.

Intervallic thinking is also important in pedagogy and practice. Ear training and sight-singing often focus on recognizing and reproducing interval sizes, while notation and analysis use intervallic patterns to illuminate voice-leading and harmonic function. Overall, the intervallic perspective provides a way to understand musical structure through the relationships between pitches rather than their fixed identities.