Descending interval songs work like this: you memorise the first two notes of a familiar tune that fall by a known distance. When you hear a falling interval, you match it to the song that starts the same way. The chart below shows how many semitones (frets on one guitar string) each descending interval covers.
| Descending interval | Semitones | Frets down one string |
|---|---|---|
| Minor second (m2) | 1 | 1 |
| Major second (M2) | 2 | 2 |
| Minor third (m3) | 3 | 3 |
| Major third (M3) | 4 | 4 |
| Perfect fourth (P4) | 5 | 5 |
| Perfect fifth (P5) | 7 | 7 |
| Minor sixth (m6) | 8 | 8 |
| Major sixth (M6) | 9 | 9 |
| Minor seventh (m7) | 10 | 10 |
| Major seventh (M7) | 11 | 11 |
For more on intervals, see Wikipedia on intervals and Open Music Theory on intervals.
Training your ear to recognize intervals is a cornerstone of musicianship. While ascending intervals often get the spotlight, being able to identify descending intervals is just as crucial for transcription, improvisation, and understanding melody.
Following our guide to ascending intervals, here is a list of popular and memorable songs to help you master the sound of descending melodic intervals.
Descending Minor Second (m2)
Descending Major Second (M2)
A whole step down, this is one of the most common intervals in Western music, found in the descending major scale. “Mary Had a Little Lamb“ (Traditional): The first two notes (“Ma-ry”) are a simple and universally known example.
Descending Minor Third (m3)
This interval is often described as sounding sad or somber, but it’s also a key component of the blues and many rock melodies.“Hey Jude“ by The Beatles: The first two notes of the main vocal line (“Hey Jude”) are a perfect descending minor third.
Descending Major Third (M3)
This interval has a bright, consonant sound and is fundamental to major chords and harmonies. Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5: The famous opening four-note motif (“Da-da-da-DUM”) features a descending major third between the third and fourth notes.
Descending Perfect Fourth (P4)
A very stable and consonant interval, often used to create a sense of resolution or finality. “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik“ by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: The first two notes of the famous opening theme form this interval.
Descending Perfect Fifth (P5)
Like the perfect fourth, this is a very strong, stable, and consonant interval. “(Meet) The Flintstones“ The first two notes of the vocal melody (“Flint-stones”) are a classic descending perfect fifth.
Descending Minor Sixth (m6)
This interval has a distinctly dramatic and often romantic or sorrowful quality. “Theme from Love Story“ by Francis Lai: The first two notes of this famous, romantic theme are the quintessential descending minor sixth.
Descending Major Sixth (M6)
A wide, consonant leap that often sounds sweet and melodic. “Man in the Mirror“ by Michael Jackson: The first two notes of the chorus (“I’m starting “) are this interval.
Descending Minor Seventh (m7)
This is a wide, somewhat dissonant interval that is very common in jazz and blues melodies. It can be one of the trickier intervals to find in popular vocal lines. “Watermelon Man“ by Herbie Hancock: The first two notes of the main instrumental theme are a classic descending minor seventh.
Descending Major Seventh (M7)
An extremely wide and dissonant interval, the descending major seventh is quite rare in popular melodies because it can be difficult to sing. “I Love You“ by Cole Porter: The first two notes of the main melody (“I love..you.”) are the classic reference for this interval.
How to Practise With Descending Interval Songs
Start with just two intervals that sound very different, such as the descending perfect fifth and the descending minor second. On one string, play a note, then play the note 7 frets lower, and sing the reference song. Repeat with 1 fret lower. Once you can tell them apart every time, add one new interval at a time.
A useful shortcut is inversion: a falling interval lands on the same note name as the rising interval that completes the octave. A descending perfect fourth reaches the same note name as an ascending perfect fifth, and a descending minor third reaches the same note name as an ascending major sixth. The two semitone counts always add up to 12.
Descending Interval Songs: FAQ
Why are descending intervals harder to hear?
Most ear training starts with rising intervals, so falling ones get less practice. Using descending interval songs gives each one its own memorable sound.
Should I learn ascending intervals first?
It helps. Start with our ascending interval ear training reference songs, then come back to this list.
What comes after intervals?
Chords and progressions. Try our chord progressions ear training library and learning the chord progression of a song by ear. It also helps to know which intervals are consonant or dissonant.
Keep a short list of descending interval songs in your practice notebook and test yourself daily. For a structured start on guitar, see our online beginner course.
