4TH INTERVALS
In this current series, we’ve been looking at ways of employing a range of intervals to develop some new and hopefully useful vocabulary when Mixolydian mode. So far, we’ve looked at 2nds and 3rds and, in this one, we move on logically to 4ths.
Intervals are a great way of developing approaches that have distinct flavours, or particular colours. Each interval-type has its own innate character, and this is something that we can use to our advantage in order to control the musical complexion of what we do when improvising.
Compared to other intervals, 4ths (like their inversion, 5ths) have an open and contemporary sound and form the basis of a whole branch of music theory: quartal harmony. Within the modes of the Major scale, each 4th interval will be one of two types:
• Perfect 4th = two and a half tones.
“Each interval has its own innate character, so intervals are
