Table 1.

Musical interval stimuli used to evoke brainstem responses

IntervalMusical pitchesNo. of semitonesRatio of fundamentalsFrequency components (Hz)
Unison (Un)A3, A301:1Note 1: 220, 440, 660, 880, 1100, 1320
Note 2: 220, 440, 660, 880, 1100, 1320
Minor 2nd (m2)A3, B♭3116:15220, 440, 660, 880, 1100, 1320
235, 470, 705, 940, 1175, 1410
Major 3rd (M3)A3, C#445:4220, 440, 660, 880, 1100, 1320
275, 550, 825, 1100, 1375, 1650
Perfect 4th (P4)A3, D454:3220, 440, 660, 880, 1100, 1320
293, 586, 879, 1172, 1465, 1758
Tritone (TT)A3, D#4645:32220, 440, 660, 880, 1100, 1320
309, 618, 927, 1236, 1545, 1854
Perfect 5th (P5)A3, E473:2220, 440, 660, 880, 1100, 1320
330, 660, 990, 1320, 1650, 1980
Major 6th (M6)A3, F#495:3220, 440, 660, 880, 1100, 1320
367, 734, 1101, 1468, 1835, 2202
Major 7th (M7)A3, G#41115:8220, 440, 660, 880, 1100, 1320
413, 826, 1239, 1652, 2065, 2478
Octave (Oct)A3, A4122:1220, 440, 660, 880, 1100, 1320
440, 880, 1320, 1760, 2200, 2640
  • Italic values represent frequency components shared between both notes in a given dyad. Bold intervals are consonant; lightface intervals, dissonant. Harmonics of individual notes were calculated based on the ratio of their fundamental frequencies (i.e., just intonation).