There are three steps to install this new music calculator into your mind.

The use of the Cycle of Thirds

as a musical interval calculator is the foundation of this course and is very important, so be sure to
thoroughly master these three steps. In order to make the most of this course, it is essential that you
master each step as you proceed.

Step One: Memorize The Cycle of Thirds

The cycle of thirds, (A C E G B D F A), is the interval structure I used to create a mental musical interval
calculator. The first step is to be able to recite this interval structure forward and backward. It is a Cycle
of Thirds because each note in this interval structure is either a minor or Major third from its adjacent
notes. Below, you see the Cycle of Thirds. In this structure, C is a third above A, E is a third above C, G is
a third above E, etc. Moving to the right in the cycle will be referred to as "Up." Moving to the left in the
cycle will be referred to as "Down." Moving up in the cycle moves toward higher pitches. Moving Down
in the cycle moves toward lower pitches.

The Cycle of Thirds

ACEGBDFA
Higher pitch =>>
<<= Lower Pitch

Before moving on to step two, you must be able to:

Recite the Cycle of Thirds forward from memory starting with A and ending with A. From
memory say, "A, C, E, G, B, D, F, A."

Recite the Cycle of Thirds backward from memory from A to A. From memory say, "A, F, D, B, G,
E, C, A"

Recite the Cycle of Thirds forward from memory starting from any note. If you start with D then
say, "D, F, A, C, E, G, B, D". If you start with E then say, "E, G, B, D, F, A, C, E". Remember, when
starting on a different note than "A", do not repeat the A twice just because it is listed that way
above. It is listed twice just to let you know it comes before C and after F. Always end with the
same note that you begin.

Recite from memory the Cycle of Thirds backward starting from any note. If you start on B then
say, "B, G, E, C, A, F, D, B." If you start on C then say, "C, A, F, D, B, G, E, C."

Recite four notes in the Cycle of Thirds starting from any note. If you start with A then say, "A, C,
E, G." If you start with F then say, "F, A, C, E." This additional practice is not just redundant.
When you start using the cycle to spell chords you will only pull three (triad chords) and four
(seventh chords) notes at a time. This will help you get into the rhythm of that. Practice this by
randomly choosing a starting note.
After you memorize the Cycle of Thirds, you should continue to practice reciting it daily (forward and
backward) for at least several months after taking the course. It will not take nearly that long to get
lightning fast with it. Some people will be able to do it well in just 15 minutes of practice. However, the
goal of extended daily practice is to encode this skill for the long term. The good news is that you only
have to do this for a minute or two each day. By all means, do more practice if you want to or feel the
need. The reason for this is that you want to encode the memorization for long term storage. This
calculator will do you no good if you forget it after just a few months of not using it.

Since all the practice required for this entire course can be done in your mind, you can do it anywhere.
Practice on a bus, in the shower, waiting at the doctor's office or anywhere (but not while driving,
working or crossing the street!). A big advantage of this course is that it is easy to get in your daily
practice!

WARNING!

Beware of False Success Syndrome!

False Success Syndrome results from the fact that the Cycle of Thirds is so easy to learn that some
people will feel like they have mastered it in just minutes. Although it is true that some can learn to
recite the Cycle of Thirds without much practice, it is strongly recommended that you follow through
with daily practice until you reach true mastery. Just feeling like you can do it easily is not good
enough. The criterion for evaluating if you know the Cycle of Thirds well enough is that you have to be
able to quickly and immediately, without pause for thought, recite the Cycle of Thirds forward and
backward from any starting note. If you have to pause before or during reciting the Cycle of Thirds then
you have not practiced enough. This should become second nature. Even if you take a break from
practice for weeks or months, you should still be able to recite the Cycle of Thirds quickly and without
pausing. This should become like counting. You do not have to practice counting from one to ten in
order to do it quickly without pause. Counting is burned into your brain. You must burn the Cycle of
Thirds into your brain just like counting. If, when starting to recite the cycle you have to stop and think
even for a second, you do not know it well enough. Just reciting from A to A is not enough. Be sure to
practice reciting the Cycle starting from any note both forward and backward. Musical intervals are the
numbers of music. Thus, you should be able to handle intervals as easily as you can count. This mental
musical calculator will let you do that.
Between each pair of adjacent notes in the Cycle of Thirds is a pitch difference of either a minor 3rd or a
Major 3rd. All intervals are made up of different numbers of half-steps. A half-step is the smallest unit of
measure of pitch difference in our musical system. On the piano keyboard a half-step is the pitch
difference between two adjacent keys on the piano keyboard. When counting half-steps above a
particular key, you always start on the next key. For example, a half-step above "A" on the far left of the
illustration below is the adjacent black key. A Major 3rd has four half-steps. A minor 3rd has three half-
steps. In the illustration below, you can see that each pair of adjacent notes in the Cycle of Thirds are
either three or four half steps apart. Remember, three half-steps is a minor 3rd, four half-steps is a
Major 3rd. In the illustration below, the larger numbers on the grey keys represent the total number of
half steps from the previous grey key.

Moving right on the keyboard (and the cycle) moves toward higher pitches.
Moving left moves toward lower pitches.

The Cycle of Thirds

A C E G B D F A (Memorize the intervals between adjacent notes!)

A to C minor 3rd

C to E Major 3rd

E to G minor 3rd

G to B Major 3rd

B to D minor 3rd

D to F minor 3rd

F to A Major 3rd

M = Major m = minor
A m3 C M3 E m3 G M3 B m3 D m3 F M3 A
IMPORTANT!

You must memorize this very well! Master it! If you think A to C, you should be able to immediately say
"minor 3rd." If you think G to B, you should immediately be able to say, "Major 3rd.". If, moving
backward (Down) in the cycle, you think D to B, you should be able to immediately say, "minor 3rd."
Before moving on, you should be able to quickly and easily name the correct interval of a 3rd that exist
between any two adjacent notes in the cycle of thirds. Technically they are not notes, but pitch classes. I
am still just going to call them notes. You should also name any one note in the cycle, then move right or
left in your mind to the next note and name the interval. For example, if you think of "G", then move up
to "B" and say "Major 3rd." Then move from G down to "E" and say "minor 3rd." The ability to recite the
Cycle of Thirds (step one) and the ability to name the correct 3rd between two adjacent notes (step two)
are the most basic and important steps! Do whatever you need to do to memorize this. Make flash
cards, or just keep reciting the answers from memory and refer to the chart on this screen only when
needed.

DO NOT MOVE ON BEFORE MASTERING THE FIRST TWO STEPS!!!

Step Three: Finding Major and minor 3rds above any note.

In step three you will learn how raise or lower any note by one half-step and how this applies to finding
Major and minor 3rds above any note. This is an important last step prior to using the musical interval
calculator to learn how to spell chords. The piano keyboard will be used to illustrate the concept. To
sharpen a note is to raise the pitch (sound) by one half step. This is the same as moving one key to the
right on a piano keyboard. To flatten a note is to lower the pitch by one half step. This is the same as
moving one key to the left on a piano keyboard.

In the illustration below, to sharpen the note D, you move to the key immediately to its right. You would
call the note D sharp (D#). To flatten the note D, you move to the key immediately to its left. You would
call that note D flat (Db). The same is true for every note. For the purposes of this course, always keep
the same letter name when sharpening or flattening a note. D, when sharpened becomes D# not Eb. D,
when flattened, becomes Db not C#.

As shown in the illustration below, there are two pairs of white keys that have no black key between
them. They are B next to C and E next to F. If you sharpen B, you must go to the very next key to the
right. Since there is not a black key between B and C, you land on C. C can also be called B sharp (B#). If
you flatten C, you must go to the very next key to the left and land on B, which can also be called C flat
(Cb). The same is true for E and F. When making any note sharp or flat, you can just add a sharp sign or a
flat sign to the right of the note. Thus, G can become G sharp (G#) or G flat (Gb).
Converting minor 3rds to Major 3rds

A minor 3rd has three half steps. A Major 3rd has four half steps. To convert a minor 3rd to a Major 3rd you
have to add one half step. By learning how to add sharp and flat signs to notes, you can move by jumps
of a Major or minor 3rd in the Cycle of Thirds at will. When moving by intervals of a 3rd in the Cycle of
Thirds, you will always move by a Major or minor 3rd, depending on the note pair. But what if you want
to move a Major 3rd above A? You know that the next 3rd in the cycle from A is C, but C is a minor 3rd
above A. To get the correct answer, you have to sharpen C by one half step. If A to C is a minor 3rd with
three half steps you must raise C to C# to make four half steps. A to C# is a Major 3rd because it has four
half steps. You can convert any minor 3rd in the cycle to a Major 3rd in the same way. For example, D to F
is a minor 3rd, but D to F# is a Major 3rd. Remember to always keep the same letter name when
sharpening a note in the Cycle of Thirds. C sharpens to C# not Db and F sharpens to F# not Gb.

Converting Major 3rds to minor 3rds

If you wanted to move a minor 3rd above C you have the opposite problem. The next step in the cycle
above C is E. C to E is a Major 3rd with four half steps. To convert a Major 3rd to a minor 3rd you must
subtract one half step. To make a minor 3rd above C you have to stop at three half steps. This means that
you must flatten E by one half step to E flat (Eb) to get a minor 3rd above C. You can convert any Major
3rd, in the Cycle of Thirds, to a minor 3rd the same way. F to A is a Major 3rd, but F to Ab is a minor 3rd.
Remember to always keep the same letter name when flattening a note in the Cycle of Thirds. E flattens
to Eb not D#.

To practice converting Major and minor 3rds, go to the Answer Charts Page. Pick any note in the Cycle of
Thirds and EXERCISES for Step Three:

Exercise A: For each note that is given, name the note that is a Major 3rd above the given note. To do
this, first name the note that is the next step in the Cycle of Thirds. Then determine if it is a Major or
minor 3rd above the given note. If its a Major 3rd above the given note then it is correct. If it is a minor
3rd above, sharpen the note by adding a sharp sign so it is a Major 3rd above the given note. If reciting
your answers just say "sharp" after the note.

1. A ______ 2. B ______ 3. C ______ 4. D ______

5. E ______ 6. F ______ 7. G ______

Check your answers on the Answer Charts page. Instructions on how to use the charts to verify answers
are located there.

Exercise B: Name the note that is a minor 3rd above the given note. First Name the note that is the next
step in the Cycle of Thirds. Then determine if it is a Major or minor 3rd above the given note. If it is a
minor 3rd, it is correct. If it is a Major 3rd, flatten the note by adding a flat sign so it is a minor 3rd above
the given note. If reciting your answers just say "flat" after the note.

1. A ______ 2. B ______ 3. C ______ 4. D ______

5. E ______ 6. F ______ 7. G ______

Check your answers on the Answer Charts page. Instructions on how to use the charts to verify answers
are located there.
Starting With a Note That is Sharp or Flat

The next thing to consider in is what happens when you are starting with a note that is already sharp or
flat. You already know what type of 3rd exists between the adjacent pairs of notes on the Cycle of Thirds.
When you start with a sharp or a flat as your given note, just add the same sharp or flat sign to the next
note in the Cycle of Thirds. When the signs of both notes match, you get the same type of 3 rd as exists in
the Cycle of Thirds.

An easy way to think of it:

If G to B is a Major 3rd, then Gb to Bb and G# to B# are also Major 3rds.

The same is true for minor 3rds.

If E to G is a minor 3rd, then Eb to Gb and E# to G# are also minor 3rds.

When trying to find the 3rd that corresponds to the cycle above a note that is sharp, just add a sharp to
the next note in the cycle. When trying to find 3rds above a note that is flat, just add a flat to the next
note in the cycle. This will give you a starting place.

Each Cycle of Thirds has the Same Third Types Between the Notes

m3 = minor 3rd M3 = Major 3rd

A# m3 C# M3 E# m3 G# M3 B# m3 D# m3 F# M3 A#
A m3 C M3 E m3 G M3 B m3 D m3 F M3 A
Ab m3 Cb M3 Eb m3 Gb M3 Bb m3 Db m3 Fb M3 Ab

Examples of Finding 3rds Above Notes with Sharps and Flats

If your starting note is sharp or flat, just make sure your next note in the cycle matches. Then you will
have the exact same Major and minor 3rds as with the regular Cycle of Thirds and can adjust from there.

If you want to find a Major 3rd above C#, just add the sharp to your next note.

You already know that C to E is a Major 3rd, therefore C# to E# is also a Major 3rd.

If you want to find a Major 3rd above Eb, you know that Eb to Gb is a minor 3rd. A minor 3rd is one half
step less than a Major 3rd. You must raise Gb one half step to G. Eb to G is a Major 3rd.

If you want to find a minor 3rd above G#, you know that G# to B# is a Major 3rd. A minor 3rd (three half
steps) is one half step less than a Major 3rd (four half steps). You must lower B# by one half step to B. G#
to B is a minor 3rd.

Remember: A note with a sharp sign is always a half step above the same note with no sign. A note with
a flat sign is always a half step below the same note with no sign.
Exercise P1-3C:

Identify each pair of notes as a Major or minor 3rd. Start by determining the matching pair. For example,
C# to E does not match. One has a sharp and one does not. Determine the 3rd type for C# to E#, then
adjust to determine the given pair. C# to E# is a Major 3rd with four half steps. Therefore, C# to E is a
minor 3rd with three half steps. If the first note does not have a sign, determine the 3rd type without the
sign on the second note. Then determine the 3rd with the sign on the second note.

1. C to Eb 2. G# to B 3. Db to F 4. A to C# 5. E to G# 6. Bb to D

7. F# to A 8. C# to E 9. G to Bb 10. D to F# 11. Ab to C 12. Eb to G

13. B to D# 14. F to Ab

Exercise P1-3D:

For each note, write the note in the blank that is a Major 3rd above the given note.

1. C# 2. F# 3. G# 4. Bb 5. Ab 6. Eb 7. Db 8. Cb 9. Fb 10. Gb

For each note, write the note in the blank that is a minor 3rd above the given note.

11. C# 12. F# 13. G# 14. Bb 15. Ab 16. Eb 17. Db 18. B#

19. A# 20. E# 21. D#

Check your answers on the Answer Chart Page.

Double Sharps and Double Flats

If you raise C# one half step you could call it C double sharp (C##). The piano key would actually be D.
Depending on the musical context you can call it either D or C##. In this course, always sharpen and
flatten notes in a way that preserves the original letter name. C# will sharpen to C##, not D. The same is
true for flats. If you lower Bb by one half step we will call it B double flat (Bbb), even if the piano key
would be A.
When you start on a double sharp or a double flat, you will need to end on a double sharp or double flat
to get the same 3rd type as in the natural Cycle of Thirds. Just as you added a sharp or flat sign to the
next note in the cycle when starting on a sharp or flat note, you will add double sharps and double flats
to the next note in the cycle when starting on a double sharp or flat. As G to B is a Major 3rd, so Gbb to
Bbb and G## to B## are also Major 3rds. As D to F is a minor 3rd, so Dbb to Fbb and D## to F## are also
minor 3rds.

You determine a Major or minor 3rd with double sharps or flats as you would any other. If Ebb to Gbb is
a minor 3rd with three half steps, but you want a Major 3rd above Ebb, you must sharpen Gbb by one half
step to Gb to get a Major 3rd with four half steps. Ebb to Gb is a Major 3rd. If G## to B## is a Major 3rd
with four half steps, but you want to find a minor 3rd above G##, you must flatten B## by one half step
to B# to get a minor 3rd with three half steps. G## to B# is a minor 3rd.

EXERCISES:

For each note below, name the note that is a Major 3rd above the given note. Remember to use the
appropriate double sharp or double flat if needed. With double sharps and flats, you still match signs
first to get the same 3rd type as in the Cycle of Thirds, then adjust to get a Major 3rd. Example: Abb to
Cbb is a minor 3rd. Raise Cbb to Cb to make it a Major 3rd (Abb to Cb). Use the chart on the answers page
for intervals above a note to check your answers.
1. C## 2. Fbb 3. Gbb 4. B# 5. A# 6. E# 7. D#

8. Dbb 9. Fbb 10. Cb 11. F# 12. Gb 13. Cbb

14. F## 15. G##

For each note below, name the note that is a minor 3rd above the given note. Remember to use the
appropriate double sharp or double flat if needed.

16. Cb 17. Fb 18. Gb 19. Bbb 20. A## 21. Ebb 22. Dbb

23. C# 24. D## 25. C## 26. F# 27. G 28. C 29. F## 30. G##

Reciting The Cycle of Thirds Backward

By now, you should be good at reciting the Cycle of Thirds forward. You will need to make sure you are
practicing reciting the Cycle of Thirds backward. You must practice reciting this more than you think. Up
to this point, you have been trained to think of the Cycle of Thirds mostly in the forward direction (A, C,
E, G, B, D ,F, A). You must now expand this habit and learn to recite the cycle backward as easily as you
can forward. This will require some extra practice in order to recite the cycle backward as easily as you
count backward from ten to one. This is necessary because much of the course that follows works with
intervals that are below a given note.

The Cycle of Thirds Backwards

A F D B G E C A

Finding Major and Minor 3rds Below a Given Note

You already know how to find the note that is a Major or minor 3rd above any given note. It is by
learning how to recite the Cycle of Thirds backwards that you can find the note that is a Major or minor
3rd below any given note. To find the 3rd below a note, just take the next step backwards in the Cycle of
Thirds and work the interval just like you would for thirds above a note. Below, there is a review practice
on finding Major and minor 3rds below a note.

Exercise:

Recite the Cycle of Thirds backwards (see above) from A to A until you can do it easily and quickly. Then
recite it from memory as fast as you can, but do not rush the process. It is important to start reading and
then reciting from memory at a speed that very is comfortable for you. Then move faster and faster as
you gain skill. You must be able to recite the Cycle of Thirds backwards from memory as easily as you
can count backwards from 10 to 1. Then practice reciting the Cycle of Thirds backward from any starting
note.
Exercise:

For each note, name the note that is a Major 3rd BELOW the given note. Use double sharps and flats if
needed. Use the Intervals below chart on the answer charts page to check your answers.

1. _________ C# 2. _________ F# 3. _________ G#

4. _________ Bb 5. _________ Ab 6. _________ Eb

7. _________ Db 8. _________ Cb 9. _________ Fb

10. _________ Gb

For each note, write the note in the blank that is a minor 3rd BELOW the given note. Use the Intervals
below chart on the answer charts page to check your answers.

11. _________ C 12. _________ F 13. _________ G

14. _________ B 15. _________ A 17. _________ D

18. _________ Bb 19. _________ Ab 20. _________ Eb

21. _________ Db

IMPORTANT:
To Practice Finding 3rds: The best way to practice is to randomly pick either a Major 3rd or a minor 3rd and
a random starting note. Name a series of ascending or decending intervals as quickly as you can. If you
picked minor 3rd above A#, then name a series of minor 3rds above A#. The first minor 3rd above A# is C#.
Then above C# is E. Above E is G then Bb, Db, Fb, Abb, etc. If you hit triple flats or sharps, just pick a new
starting note and start it again. Do this until you are very fast at finding Major and minor 3rds above or
below any note! Use the interval charts on the answers page for intervals above or below a note to
check your answers.

If you practice well in finding Major and minor 3rds so that you can quickly name a Major or minor 3rd
above or below any note, you will never cease to be pleased with the excellence of the musical gift you
have given yourself. This skill is EXTREMELY useful. BEFORE PROCEEDING, continue to drill on finding
Major and minor 3rds above or below any note until you can do it quickly and easily.

DAILY PRACTICE

Practice reciting the Cycle of Thirds forward and backward for at least one minute a day.

IMPORTANT!

You must MASTER the first three steps, which install the musical interval calculator into your head. It is
imperative that you become expert at practicing what you have learned so far.