P5

Perfect · 7 semitones

Perfect 5th

Seven semitones — the most consonant interval after the octave. Stable, open, and powerful. The basis of power chords and tonal harmony.

perfect7 semitonesP5

How to Hear It

How to Identify It

Open, powerful, and resolved. Think of the Star Wars theme — the first two notes of the main melody. Or Twinkle Twinkle Little Star — the leap on 'Twin-kle TWIN-kle'.

Famous Examples

  • Star Wars theme — opening two melody notes
  • Twinkle Twinkle Little Star — the leap on 'twin-kle TWIN-kle'
  • Power chords in rock — root and 5th
  • Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001) — opening interval
Ready to test your ear?The recognition trainer plays random intervals — identify them by ear with instant feedback.
Open Trainer →

Often Confused With

P4
Perfect 4th5 semitones
M6
Major 6th9 semitones
P1
Unison0 semitones
P8
Octave12 semitones

All Intervals

P1Unison0stm2Minor 2nd1stM2Major 2nd2stm3Minor 3rd3stM3Major 3rd4stP4Perfect 4th5stTTTritone6stP5Perfect 5th7stm6Minor 6th8stM6Major 6th9stm7Minor 7th10stM7Major 7th11stP8Octave12stm9Minor 9th13stM9Major 9th14st

About the Perfect 5th

The Perfect 5th (P5) is a perfect interval spanning 7 semitones. Seven semitones — the most consonant interval after the octave. Stable, open, and powerful. The basis of power chords and tonal harmony.

To train your ear to identify the perfect 5th reliably, practice hearing it in all three modes — ascending, descending, and harmonic. The ascending version is most commonly tested, but recognising it in all contexts is the mark of a trained ear. Use the trainer above to test yourself in a mixed set of all intervals.