perfect fifth
C to G
A perfect fifth is a musical interval spanning seven semitones, or five steps on the diatonic scale—like from C to G.
It's called "perfect" because the frequency ratio (3:2) produces an exceptionally consonant, stable sound that has anchored Western harmony for centuries.
The interval appears in power chords, the opening of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star," and the foundational drone of bagpipes.
When you tune a guitar string by matching harmonics, you're typically using perfect fifths.
Duration between two points
- consonanceHarmonious sound combination
- octaveEight-note interval
- triadGroup of three
- chordNotes sounded simultaneously
tonic · dominant · cadence · counterpoint · resolution · tonality · diatonic · arpeggio
Implicit secondary meanings
- harmonicsFrequencies above the fundamental
- fundamentalForming the base
- frequencyRate of recurrence
- vibrationRapid oscillating movement
resonance · partials · timbre · sonority · waveform · amplitude · oscillation · standing wave
Root-fifth guitar voicing
- guitarFretted stringed instrument
- violinBowed string instrument
- celloDeep-voiced bowed instrument
- bassDeep pitch or fish
fiddle · bagpipe · hurdy-gurdy · open tuning · double stop · barre chord · mandolin · viola
Inborn behavioral nature
- equal temperamentUniform pitch division system
- PythagoreanOf ancient Greek mathematics
- centHundredth of a dollar
- ratioComparative numerical relation
interval
Duration between two points
- consonanceHarmonious sound combination
- octaveEight-note interval
- triadGroup of three
chord · tonic · dominant · cadence · counterpoint · resolution · tonality · diatonic · arpeggio · melody
overtones
Implicit secondary meanings
- harmonicsFrequencies above the fundamental
- fundamentalForming the base
- frequencyRate of recurrence
vibration · resonance · partials · timbre · sonority · waveform · amplitude · oscillation · standing wave · node
power chord
Root-fifth guitar voicing
bass · fiddle · bagpipe · hurdy-gurdy · open tuning · double stop · barre chord · mandolin · viola
temperament
Inborn behavioral nature
- equal temperamentUniform pitch division system
- PythagoreanOf ancient Greek mathematics
- centHundredth of a dollar
ratio · well-tempered · concert pitch · tuning fork · comma
- harmonyharmony, chord, chords, triad, triads
- intervalssecond, third, fourth, sixth, seventh
- proportiongolden ratio, golden mean, golden section, phi, golden rectangle
- A minorAmin, harmonic minor, key signature, C major
- tuningtuning, intonation, temperament, equal temperament, tuning pegs
perfect fifthperfect fourth
Five-semitone harmonic distance
semitone · half step · unison · minor third
perfect, fifth, perfects, perfected, perfecting, perfection, perfectly, imperfect, imperfection