Interval Mnemonics

Descending / Ascending Intervals interval Unison - P1 minor second - m2 Major second - M2

Ascending Happy Birthday to You, The French National Anthem (La Marseillaise) “Jaws” theme, Silver Bells, Danny Boy,

Joy to the World, Für Elise, I Dreamed A Dream (“Les Mis”)

Happy Birthday, Frère Jacques,

Mary Had a Little Lamb, Three Blind Mice,

Silent Night, Yesterday

One Love, Teen Spirit, Eight Days a Week, Satin Doll

Greensleeves, Jingle Bells, Wade In The minor third - m3

Water, Hallelujah (“Shrek”), Georgia On My Mind

Major third – M3

Kumbaya, Hava Nagilah

Beethoven’s 5th Symphony (opening motive)

The Wedding March (Here Comes the Bride), Auld Lang Syne, Taps

Perfect fifth – P5

The Star Spangled Banner Summertime, Swing Low Sweet Chariot,

Story”), O Tannenbaum, Jeopardy theme

Tritone - T

Hey Jude, This Old Man,

When the Saints Go Marching In

Amazing Grace, Tonight (“West Side

Perfect fourth – P4

Descending

The Simpsons (opening motive), Maria or Cool (“West Side Story”) Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Star Wars theme, Also sprach Zarathustra

Old McDonald Had A Farm, Eine kleine Nachtmusik, I’ve Been Working on the Railroad, Jeopardy theme, Row Row Row Your Boat (merrily merrily) Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic, Roxanne, Adeste Fideles (O Come, All Ye Faithful), All Of Me,

YYZ The Flintstones, Seven Steps to Heaven The Wizard of Oz (the Witch’s Guards march),

Because, The Entertainer, minor sixth – m6

Someday My Prince Will Come (2nd

Love Story theme, Oops I Did It Again

phrase), Baker Street (saxophone hook) Major sixth – M6

minor seventh – m7 Major seventh – M7

NBC theme, Buddy Holly, My Bonnie Lies

Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen,

Over the Ocean, Take the A Train

Sweet Caroline, Crazy

Star Trek theme, Somewhere (“West Side Story”) Take on Me Over the Rainbow, Let It Snow, Bring

Octave – P8

Him Home (“Les Mis”)

Watermelon Man I Love You (Cole Porter) Willow Weep For Me, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony: Scherzo

Interval or Chord Major Chord

Ascending Kum Ba Yah, Can’t Buy Me Love Stairway to Heaven (intro), “Beauty and

minor chord

the Beast”, Sounds of Silence, Listen to the Music (ahs)

Descending or Descending and Ascending The Star Spangled Banner (descending and ascending) Swing Low Sweet Chariot, Vamp from Friend Like Me (“Aladdin”)

diminished chord

(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction

Augmented Chord

A Hard Day’s Night (opening chord)

Major Scale

Do Re Mi (“The Sound Of Music")

Joy to the World, The Greatest Love Of All

minor scale

Another One Bites the Dust (bass line)

Dust in the Wind, bass intro for Hit the Road, Jack

Do Re Mi, Do Re Mi Fa

Frere Jacques, Dust in the Wind (verse), Lean On Me Three Blind Mice, Sweet Home Alabama,

Mi Re Do

Mary had a Little Lamb