If a major interval is lowered by two half steps, what is the resulting quality?

If a major interval is lowered by two half steps, what is the resulting quality?

• A. Diminished intervals
• B. Minor intervals
• C. Perfect intervals
• D. Augmented intervals

Answer: (A)

Lowering a major interval by two half steps reduces the pitch distance enough to move into the diminished family. When you drop the upper note by two semitones, the interval’s quality changes from major to diminished (for example, a major third like C–E is four semitones, and lowering the upper note by two semitones gives C–E double-flat, which is a diminished third). So the resulting quality is diminished intervals.

Lowering a major interval by two half steps reduces the pitch distance enough to move into the diminished family. When you drop the upper note by two semitones, the interval’s quality changes from major to diminished (for example, a major third like C–E is four semitones, and lowering the upper note by two semitones gives C–E double-flat, which is a diminished third). So the resulting quality is diminished intervals.