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 A Major 7^th is an interval that is eleven half steps above or below the starting note. A minor 7^th is an interval that is ten half steps above or below the starting note.

M = Major, m = minor

M2 m2                                               m7 M7           

Finding Major and minor 7^ths will also work on the principle of inverting intervals. You already know how to find a Major or minor 2^nd.  7^ths invert to 2^nds in the same way that 6^ths invert to 3^rds. You can see this in the illustration above where AG (m7) inverts to GA (M2). Memorize the following chart so you can think of any of the four 7^ths and immediately name the 2^nd to which it inverts. 

 Exercise:

Fill in the blanks with the note that is a Major 7^th above the given note. Use the Interval Answer Charts to check your answers.
To find a Major 7^th above, find the note that is a minor 2^nd below. Remember that a minor 2^nd below B is A# not Bb.

Exercise:

Fill in the blanks with the note that is a Major 7^th below the given note. Use the Interval Answer Charts to check your answers.
To find a Major 7^th below, find the note that is a minor 2^nd above.

Exercise :

Fill in the blanks with the note that is a minor 7^th above the given note. Use the Interval Answer Charts to check your answers.
To find a minor 7^th above, find the note that is a Major 2^nd below.

Exercise P1-13D:

Fill in the blanks with the note that is a minor 7^th below the given note. Use the Interval Answer Charts to check your answers.
To find a minor 7^th  below, find the note that is a Major 2^nd above.

 How to Find Perfect 8^ths Above or Below Any Note

A Perfect 8^th is 12 half steps (known as an octave) above or below a given note. It is especially easy to name this note because it is always the same note name. A Perfect 8^th above C is C. A Perfect 8^th below C is C. A Perfect 8^th above D is D, and so on. In contrast to Perfect Primes, which are the exact same pitch, a Perfect 8^th is always an octave (12 half steps) above or below the given note.

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