Tricks for Singing Major Intervals
Major is designated with Maj or simply a capital M
Perfect is designated with capital P
M 2nd up – Happy Birth of Happy Birthday
M 2nd down – Birthday of Happy Birthday
M 3rd up – Michael of Michael Row the Boat Ashore
M 3rd down – the first notes of Three Blind Mice or Hot Cross Buns
P 4th up – Here Comes of Here Comes the Bride
P 4th down – Sing down 4, 3, 2, 1, or sing the melody given on the CD
P 5th up – Twinkle, Twinkle of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
P 5th down – Oh EE Oh of Wizard of Oz – can be used for P 5th up or down
M 6th up – My Bon of My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean or sing Twinkle Twinkle little and little is a M 6th from the first Twinkle
M 6th down – sing backwards from My Bon/Bon My
M 7th up – Sing octave of Somewhere of Somewhere Over the Rainbow and go down ½ step from where
M 7th down – Sing backward to Some from the M 7th found from going ½ step down from the octave of Somewhere
Octave up – Somewhere of Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Octave down – Sing backward from Somewhere/Where some
Tricks for Finding Minor Intervals
Minor is designated with Min or simple a small m
Augmented is designated with Aug
m 2nd up or down – find Maj 2nd with Happy Birth of Happy Birthday and go down ½ step
m 3rd down – Kids teasing song Na Na
m 3rd up – I am a of I Am a Poor Wayfaring Stranger, between am & a
Aug 4th (Tritone) – Ma-ri of Maria from West Side Story, or sing Twinkle Twinkle and go down ½ step
m 6th down – Where do of Where do I begin from Theme from Love Story
m 6th up – do I Begin of Where do I begin from Theme from Love Story
m 7th up – Find a 5th by singing Twinkle Twinkle, and then sing I am a of I Am a Poor Wayfaring Stranger up from the 5th and you’ll have a m 7th from where you started the first Twinkle of Twinkle Twinkle Twinkle
Tricks for Singing Major Chords
Major Chord (triad) up = Maj 3rd plus min 3rd
Maj chord up – Use the tricks for finding M 3rd and m 3rd or sing Michael Row of Michael Row Your Boat Ashore and Michael Row is a major triad; then sing 1 3 5 3 1 and you’ll have the Maj chord up and down
Maj chord down – Oh Oh Say of the Star Spangled Banner
Tricks for Singing Minor Chords
Minor Chord (triad) up = min 3rd + maj 3rd
Min chord up and down – Use the tricks for finding m 3rd and M 3rd or sing I am a poor of I Am a Poor Wayfaring Stranger and I am a poor is a minor triad; then sing 1 3 5 3 1 and you’ll have the min chord up and down
Tricks for Singing 7th Chords
Maj 7th Chord (M7) = M 3rd + m 3rd + M 3rd
M7 Chord – Sing Michael Row and from Row, sing Michael and chael will be the M7th; then sing 1 3 5 7 5 3 1
7th Chord = M 3rd + m 3rd + m 3rd
7th Chord – Sing Michael Row and from Row, sing I am a from I Am a Poor Wayfaring Stranger and “a” will be the 7th (minor 7th); then sing 1 3 5 7 5 3 1
Min 7th Chord (m7) = m 3rd + M 3rd + m 3rd
m7 Chord – Sing I am a poor of I Am a Poor Wayfaring Stranger and from poor sing I am a again and “a” will be the 7th; then sing 1 3 5 7 5 3 1