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Generic and specific intervals
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<p>In <a href="/facts/Diatonic_set_theory/ygunohtU">diatonic set theory</a> a generic interval is the number of scale <a href="/facts/Step_(music)/Q6jCFRnB">steps</a> between <a href="/facts/Note_(music)/spIQyV4T">notes</a> of a <a href="/facts/Set_(music)/NMoE2nSG">collection</a> or <a href="/facts/Scale_(music)/QjMlvs3u">scale</a>. The largest generic <a href="/facts/Interval_(music)/aFwkkgpY">interval</a> is one less than the number of scale members. (Johnson 2003, p. 26) </p><p>A specific interval is the clockwise distance between <a href="/facts/Pitch_class/40mqdJtN">pitch classes</a> on the <a href="/facts/Chromatic_circle/7Cxzlr4M">chromatic circle</a> (<a href="/facts/Interval_class/SU3AKfND">interval class</a>), in other words the number of <a href="/facts/Half_step/lVBsLYSA">half steps</a> between <a href="/facts/Note_(music)/spIQyV4T">notes</a>. The largest specific <a href="/facts/Interval_(music)/aFwkkgpY">interval</a> is one less than the number of "chromatic" pitches. In twelve tone equal temperament the largest specific interval is 11. (Johnson 2003, p. 26) </p><p>In the <a href="/facts/Diatonic_collection/ejXSu379">diatonic collection</a> the generic interval is one less than the corresponding diatonic interval: </p> <ul><li>Adjacent intervals, <a href="/facts/Major_second/x94d53Fo">seconds</a>, are 1</li> <li><a href="/facts/Major_third/7CPRURg4">Thirds</a> = 2</li> <li><a href="/facts/Perfect_fourth/IA1GPHBw">Fourths</a> = 3</li> <li><a href="/facts/Perfect_fifth/PTIaHPuI">Fifths</a> = 4</li> <li><a href="/facts/Major_sixth/noVTP950">Sixths</a> = 5</li> <li><a href="/facts/Major_seventh/tWPXmCNB">Sevenths</a> = 6</li></ul> <p>The largest generic interval in the diatonic scale being 7 − 1 = 6. </p>