In the next lesson you will hear either a Perfect 4th or a Perfect 5th played harmonically as a chord and you will identify it.
Perfect 4ths and 5ths sound very similar and can be hard to distinguish when both notes are played at once.
Perfect 4th – Chord | |
Perfect 5th – Chord |
The reason is they sound similar is that 4ths and 5ths are are inversions of each other.
![](/files/tutorials/theory/intervals/07/4th_5th_inversion.jpg)
Inversion means taking the bottom note and moving it up an octave. It’s like flipping it over.
For example, if you had a Perfect 4th with the notes C and F, then moved the C up an octave, you would now have F and C, which is a Perfect 5th.
![](/files/tutorials/theory/intervals/07/4th_5th_inversion.jpg)
One strategy for hearing the difference is to imagine the two notes played separately as a melody.
You can also try singing the individual notes.
Please press the Exercise button below.