Intervals

Often music theory can seem like math, it seems difficult to learn and put to use. Learning intervals is an important step in music theory, however. It’s also not that difficult! Intervals help you understand the major scale, keys, chords, the circle of fifths, and much more. They can also be used to describe dissonance and consonance.

Definition

An interval measures the distance between two notes or pitches. For the guitar, this is any two places on the fretboard. You can play these notes simultaneously or adjacently.

All these distances are given names according to how many half-steps they have. A half-step or semitone is equivalent to moving up or down the fretboard one note. (A whole-step is equivalent to moving up or down two notes— but you don’t need to know that for this lesson)

Intervals are kind of like if the distance between your house and your work is 5280 feet, that distance is called a mile; the mile would be considered the “interval.” (Or 1,000 meters in a kilometer; the kilometer is the “interval”)

So if you take two notes that have a distance of two half-steps or semitones (two fret positions) that is a Major 2nd.

Understanding Intervals

In order to understand intervals recall that in the Major scale,

“Each note in the scale is assigned a number. The note’s position in the scale is referred to as the scale degree. Degrees both have a number and a name. Most often, the Roman numerals are seen rather than the name. Tonic (First) Supertonic (Second) Mediant (Third) Subdominant (Fourth) Dominant (Fifth) Submediant (Sixth) Leading tone (Seventh) Using the C major scale again, here’s an example of how scale degrees are assigned to notes. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-1 C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C C is the first note in the scale and therefore is the I (the first) or the tonic, D is the II (second) or the supertonic, and so on. The octave of “C” is also considered the first.”

Each of those notes in the major scale has a relation to the root note. These relations are the interval.

If you play the low c twice in the C major scale, you are playing an interval called unison. It has a 0 semitone difference.

C to D is a Major Second = 2 Semitones (Half Step)

C to E is a Major Third = 4 Semitones (Half Step)

C to F is a Perfect Fourth = 5 Semitones (Half Step)

C to G is a Perfect Fifth = 7 Semitones (Half Step)

C to A is a Major Sixth = 9 Semitones (Half Step)

C to B is a Major Seventh = 11 Semitones (Half Step)

C to C (higher) is a Perfect Octave = 12 Semitones (Half Step)

Perfect vs Major

Perfect and Major refer to the “quality” of the interval.

Perfect is referring to consonant and open. (not dissident)

A Major interval is in relation to the major scale and there is always a minor version of the interval.

Minor intervals are always one semitone (half-step or one fret) lower than the Major interval.

That gives you four more intervals:

Remember, each semitone is equivalent to moving up or down one fret. You can play these intervals by using the major scale and counting frets.

So a Minor second would be the difference of up one fret. (G Major Scale) G# is the minor second.

e|——————————–|

B|——————————–|

G|——————————–|

D|——————————–|

A|——————————–|

E|–3-4————————–|

For a minor seventh, take the major seventh of the major scale and flatten it.

e|——————————–|

B|——————————–|

G|——————————–|

D|——3————————|

A|——————————–|

E|–3—————————–|

Now, what is in the middle or 6 semitones? That is a tritone. Also called an augmented 4th, if you raise the perfect 4th or a diminished 5th if you flatten the perfect 5th.

Now all of the intervals are named within one octave.

You can use these intervals to label chords. Such as a major 7th chord is made of the one (unison), major 3rd, perfect 5th and major 7th.

Conclusion

Intervals are found all over the fretboard. You can experiment and find them, use your knowledge of the major scale to help you. Whenever you play guitar, you are playing intervals, understanding these basics will help you on your way to mastering your instrument. There is more to intervals. These are just simple intervals, there are compound intervals such as 9ths. If you have any questions, leave a comment below. Keep rocking. Shred ‘Till You’re Dead!