In Aural Skills III, we studied simple intervals. These may be defined as “intervals that span up to, and including, one octave.”
In Aural Skills IV, we will study compound intervals. A compound interval spans more than one octave.
As we advance in our study of hearing increasingly complicated melodies, chords, and four-part harmonies, we will need compound intervals to explain their analysis and notation.
Compound intervals are not harder to identify and notate than simple intervals. A compound interval such as the minor 14th – which we still spell as sol, fa – also has the characteristic “dominant function” sound that you learned to identify in Aural Skills III.
Analyzing and notating compound intervals is a three-step process.