How do I actually memorise these intervals?

Listen to each song's opening, hum it back, then sing the interval name out loud. Repeat over a week. After ~20 reps you'll recognise the interval by ear before the song name even comes to mind.

What if I don't know one of the songs?

Pick any song you do know that starts with the same interval. The mnemonic only works if it's instantly recognisable to you — substitute freely with anything from your own listening history.

Is there an interactive trainer?

Yes — the Interval Finder plays random intervals and asks you to identify them by ear. Start there for active practice and use this chart as a reference whenever you blank on one.

Interval Song Chart

Memorize intervals fast: a chart of well-known songs whose opening melody outlines each interval, ascending and descending. Click ▲ or ▼ to hear the interval in that direction.

Minor 2nd

1 semitones · m2

Jaws (theme)
John Williams
White Christmas
I. Berlin
Für Elise
Beethoven

Major 2nd

2 semitones · M2

Happy Birthday
Traditional
Mary Had a Little Lamb
Traditional
Frère Jacques
Traditional

Minor 3rd

3 semitones · m3

Greensleeves
Traditional
Star Spangled Banner
F. S. Key
Hey Jude
The Beatles

Major 3rd

4 semitones · M3

When the Saints Go Marching In
Traditional
Oh When the Saints
Traditional
Summertime
Gershwin

Perfect 4th

5 semitones · P4

Here Comes the Bride
Wagner
Amazing Grace
Traditional
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
Mozart

Tritone

6 semitones · TT

The Simpsons (theme)
Danny Elfman
Maria (West Side Story)
Bernstein
YYZ
Rush

Perfect 5th

7 semitones · P5

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
Traditional
Star Wars (main theme)
John Williams
Flintstones (theme)
Hoyt Curtin

Minor 6th

8 semitones · m6

The Entertainer
Joplin
Black Orpheus (Manhã de Carnaval)
L. Bonfá

Major 6th

9 semitones · M6

My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean
Traditional
NBC Chimes
-
Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen
Spiritual

Minor 7th

10 semitones · m7

Somewhere (West Side Story)
Bernstein
Star Trek (theme)
A. Courage

Major 7th

11 semitones · M7

Take On Me
a-ha (chorus)
Bali Ha'i (South Pacific)
Rodgers

Octave

12 semitones · P8

Somewhere Over the Rainbow
H. Arlen
Singin' in the Rain
N. Brown
Willow Weep for Me
Ann Ronell

How to use this chart

For each interval, recall the title's first two notes. With practice you'll start to recognise that 'Twinkle Twinkle' opening for a perfect 5th, the Star Wars fanfare for the same interval, the Jaws theme for a minor 2nd, and so on.

Pair this with the Interval Finder for active practice - listen, guess, then check the chart for a song mnemonic if you missed it.

Frequently asked questions

How do I actually memorise these intervals?: Listen to each song's opening, hum it back, then sing the interval name out loud. Repeat over a week. After ~20 reps you'll recognise the interval by ear before the song name even comes to mind.
What if I don't know one of the songs?: Pick any song you do know that starts with the same interval. The mnemonic only works if it's instantly recognisable to you — substitute freely with anything from your own listening history.
Is there an interactive trainer?: Yes — the Interval Finder plays random intervals and asks you to identify them by ear. Start there for active practice and use this chart as a reference whenever you blank on one.