perfect unison

About

The perfect unison (or perfect prime) is the most basic interval in music theory. It is essentially the same note so it may seem that is not actually an interval. It has no semitones between the two notes, sounds super constant and is easy to remember and understand.

However, it is actually important to understand that it consists out of the same natural tone! To freshen up your mind, watch our video about natural notes.

So (where notes written are in the same octave):

C to C is a perfect unison

Ab to Ab is a perfect unison

However!:

C# to Db is not a perfect unison

F# to Gb is not a perfect unison

The latter two may sound the same as a perfect prime, theoretically they are not the same because they do not share the same natural tone. In fact, because their naturals imply a second interval, they are both diminished seconds. This is an important building block for constructing different, more complex, intervals.

Examples

One note samba - Antônio Carlos Jobim

Check out our blogpost with examples of the perfect prime!

Abbreviation

P1

semitones

0

Gerelateerde intervallen

Perfect unison Perfect fifth Perfect fourth Perfect octave Perfect eleventh

Transposed

perfect unison - Guitar Interval Diagram - Position 0

The Perfect unison from B is an B

Select a tonic to transpose this interval

C C D D D E E F F G G A G A A B B

Which chords use the perfect unison interval?

Which scales use the perfect unison interval?

B Major pentatonic B Major B Minor B Major lues B Minor lues B Melodic minor B Harmonic minor B Beop B Diminished B Dorian B Lydian B Mixolydian B Phrygian B Locrian B Ionian pentatonic B Mixolydian pentatonic B Ritusen B Egyptian B Neopolitan major pentatonic B Vietnamese one B Pelog B Kumoijoshi B Hirajoshi B Iwato B In-sen B Lydian pentatonic B Malkos raga B Locrian pentatonic B Minor pentatonic B Minor six pentatonic B Flat three pentatonic B Flat six pentatonic B Scriain B Whole tone pentatonic B Lydian sharp fifth pentatonic B Lydian dominant pentatonic B Minor major seven pentatonic B Super locrian pentatonic B Minor hexatonic B Augmented B Piongio B Prometheus neopolitan B Prometheus B Mystery sharp first B Six tone symmetric B Whole tone B Messiaen's mode sharp fifth B Locrian major B Doule harmonic lydian B Altered B Locrian sharp second B Mixolydian flat sixth B Lydian dominant B Lydian augmented B Dorian flat second B Ultralocrian B Locrian sixth B Augmented heptatonic B Dorian sharp four B Lydian diminished B Leading whole tone B Lydian minor B Phrygian dominant B Balinese B Neopolitan major B Harmonic major B Doule harmonic major B Hungarian minor B Oriental B Flamenco B Todi raga B Persian B Enigmatic B Major augmented B Lydian sharp ninth B Messiaen's mode sharp fourth B Purvi raga B Spanish heptatonic B Beop minor B Beop major B Beop locrian B Minor eop B Ichikosucho B Minor six diminished B Half whole diminished B Kafi raga B messiaen's mode sharp sixth B Composite lues B Messiaen's mode sharp third B Messiaen's mode sharp seventh B Chromatic

Blog posts about perfect unison

Music theory basics: the major scale

In this article you will learn more about the major scale.

April 5, 2024

Learn music theory with Sonid 4: Perfect Prime

A series of videos to explain music theory in small chunks of information. Part 4 - Perfect Prime

March 22, 2024

Music theory basics: perfect intervals

Which intervals are perfect and what does this mean? Read all about it in our new article.

April 25, 2024