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Tomus

Interval reference

Diminished fifth

5 letter names · 6 semitones · C → G♭

A diminished fifth spans 5 letter names and 6 semitones. Both halves of that description matter: the number comes from the letters, the quality from the exact size.

Starting on C, a diminished fifth reaches G♭. Its shorthand is d5, and traditionally it counts as dissonance.

How big it is

6 semitonesCG♭0123456789101112
C up to G♭ is 6 semitones. Count the keys, black and white alike.
CCDEFGABCDEG♭
C and G♭ on the keyboard.
𝄞CG♭
C up to G♭ written on the treble stave.

Turned upside down

Move the lower note up an octave and a diminished fifth becomes a augmented fourth. The two numbers add up to nine, and the quality flips — major with minor, augmented with diminished, while perfect stays perfect.

From every starting note

FromUp a diminished fifth
CG♭
C♯G
DA♭
D♯A
EB♭
FC♭
F♯C
GD♭
G♯D
AE♭
A♯E
BF
A dash means the strict spelling would need a triple accidental, which real music avoids by respelling the starting note.

Related

All intervals within an octave