Augmented 4th, Devil's Interval

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In summary, the conversation discusses different intervals and combinations of notes that are often associated with creating a scary or creepy sound in music. The myth of the "devil's interval" is debunked, as it was never actually banned in sacred music. The dominant 7th with a tritone is not particularly creepy, and the classic metal creepy arpeggio is a minor add 9. The piece "Beelzebub" does not heavily feature the "devil's interval."
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symbolipoint
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Are there other intervals that do what this one does? I poked around briefly on a guitar to try to check another couple of oddball chords to see which intervals were making it sound odd, but I could not see a match to any augmented 4th.

(the kind of tones or NOTES combined which make music scary or creepy)
 
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7th with a sharped 9th, voiced root-fifth-#9.
7th with a sharped 9th and sharped 13th voiced third, #9, #13.
 
  • #3
The ‘devils interval’ stuff is a myth - there was never any ecclesiastical ban on its use, and can find it in medieval and renaissance sacred music, although as a dissonance it was treated carefully. A dominant 7th, with the tritone between 3 and 7 is not particularly creepy.

The classic metal creepy arpeggio is a minor add 9, the grip would be x02410 (frets from the 6th through 1st string)
 
  • #4
Also, if there were ever a piece that should use the Devil's Interval, it would be Andrea Catozzi's Beelzebub. Yet it hardly does at all!
 

1. What is an Augmented 4th, Devil's Interval?

An Augmented 4th, also known as a Devil's Interval, is a musical interval that spans 6 semitones and is considered to be dissonant and unsettling. It is commonly used in classical and modern music to create tension and add a sense of unease.

2. Why is it called the Devil's Interval?

The Devil's Interval gained its name from its use in medieval religious music. The Catholic Church banned the use of this interval in their music due to its dissonant and unsettling nature, associating it with the devil and evil. However, it has since been used in various genres of music as a tool to create tension and add a unique sound.

3. How is an Augmented 4th, Devil's Interval different from a Perfect 4th?

An Augmented 4th is one semitone larger than a Perfect 4th. This may not seem like a significant difference, but it creates a dissonant sound that is not present in a Perfect 4th. The Perfect 4th is considered a consonant interval, while the Augmented 4th is considered a dissonant interval.

4. Can the Devil's Interval be used in a musical composition?

Yes, the Devil's Interval can be used in a musical composition. While it was once banned by the Catholic Church, it has since been used in various genres of music, including classical, rock, and jazz. It is often used to add tension and create a unique sound in a composition.

5. Are there any other names for the Augmented 4th, Devil's Interval?

Yes, the Augmented 4th is also known as the Tritone, as it is three whole tones. It is also referred to as the Diabolus in Musica, meaning the Devil in Music. In jazz music, it is sometimes called the "flat five" or the "blue note." These alternate names reflect the interval's history and use in different genres of music.

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