Music Theory for Guitar : Intervals
REVIEW
1
Intervals are measurements
of musical distance.
PAGE 1
LESSON 3
In previous lessons we discussed the most basic
intervals: whole steps and half steps.
These intervals go by a few other names too.
OPEN A STRING
A
1st
FRET
M
a
j2
nd
A#
Min 2nd
3rd
FRET
M
aj
3rd
fe
Per
ct
4th
fec
Per
t5
th
a
M
j6
th
C
Min 3rd
C#
D
5th
FRET
h
g 4t
D#/ a ui m 5th
Eb d
E
F
7th
FRET
th
Min 6
F# 9th
Oc
tave
Half steps are also called minor seconds, written as
lowercase “m2”
These UPPERCASE and lowercase distinctions are a
big part of written music theory. You’ll see what I
mean on the next page.
Just like measurements we reference on a regular
basis - inches, meters, etc - each musical measurement has a name. See the diagram to the left for
the names each measurement from the 1st note of
a scale.
FRET
G
th
Min 7
M
aj
7th
B
A whole step is also called a Major 2nd (second),
written as “M2” with an UPPERCASE “M”
G#
A 12th
There are a few ways to look at intervals, but since
the interval names are based on scales, we’ll start
by writing out a C Major scale and a C minor
scale.
FRET
Octave
The notes that a major and minor
Fourth
scale have in common are seen to the
right. A fourth, a fifth, and an octave. The
W W H W
W W H
number of steps between the first and
H
W W
W W
H
W
the fourth note of the scale is the same
for both scales. One is WWH and one
F ift h
is WHW. The order is different but the
amount of steps is the same. This is
true for fourths, fifths, and octaves. The proper name for these intervals is perfect, as in
perfect fourth, perfect fifth, and perfect octave (written as P4, P5, and P8) but most
people don’t say the “perfect” when referring to these intervals.
C D E F G A B C
C D Eb F G Ab Bb C
Music Theory for Guitar : Intervals
REVIEW
PAGE 2
LESSON 3
Octave
Ignoring 2nds for now, it can be useful
to think of fourths, fifths, and octaves
as the notes that the major and minor
scale have in common. They are the
pillars that hold up both scales.
Fourth
C WD WE H F WG WA WB H C
C WD HEbWF WG HAb WBbWC
F ift h
M3
C WD WE H F WG WA WB H C
C WD HEbWF WG HAb WBbWC
M3 = WW
m3 = WH
m3
This same naming system applies to
the 6th and 7th notes of the scale. In
the major scale has a Major 6th (M6)
and a Major 7th (M7) and the minor
scale has a minor sixth (m6) and minor
7th (m7).
The measurement from the 1st to the
3rd note of a MAJOR scale is called a
Major 3rd, written as M3. The distance
from the 1st to the 3rd note of a minor
scale is called a minor third, written as
lowercase m3.
M6 M7
C WD WE H F WG WA WB H C
C WD HEbWF WG HAb WBbWC
m 6 m7
Here is the exception: both scales have a Major 2nd (M2) between their 1st and 2nd note.
M2
M3
M6
M7
*M2
m3
m6
m7
C WD WE H F WG WA WB H C
C WD HEbWF WG HAb WBbWC
Music Theory for Guitar : Intervals
PAGE 3
LESSON 3
REVIEW
For those who prefer linear organization,
here is a list of intervals in half step increments. Remember, moving one half step
(H) is the equivalent of moving one fret.
These are the names of every possible distance within an octave.
For example, if you play an open E and
then play G# on the 4th fret, you’ve moved
4 half steps, which is a Major third. If you
play open A, then play F on the 8th fret,
you’ve moved 8 half steps, which is a
minor sixth.
P4 P4 P4 M3 P4
P4
same note
same note
same note
same note
same note
E A D G B E
B
A D G
E A
# of H
1H
2H
3H
4H
5H
6H
7H
8H
9H
10H
11H
12H
name of interval
half step or m2
whole step or M2
m3 (minor third)
M3 (Major third)
P4 (perfect 4th)
aug 4th or dim 5th
P5 (perfect 5th)
m6 (minor 6th)
M6 (Major 6th)
m7 (minor 7th)
M7 (Major 7th)
Octave (also written 8va)
On guitar, the strings are tuned a 4th
apart, except for the G and B string,
which are tuned a Major 3rd apart. This
means that intervals can make specific
shapes across the fingerboard, depending
on which strings you play. For example,
if you want to move a 4th from G on the
third fret of the E low string, a 4th will
always be on the same fret on the A
string. The same is true of the D and G,
strings, but on the 5th fret.
This diagram shows a slightly more ergonomic way
to view intervals on guitar. Instead of moving up
and down one string (as shown on the first page)
this interval set maps out intervals within an octave
over three strings. This isn’t the only way to visualize these intervals, but it is one effective way to view
them!
Its also important to note that a sharp fourth (also
called an augmented fourth) is the same note as a flat
(or diminished) fifth. For practice getting to know
these shapes, see Interval Practice 1 & 2.
E A D G B E
F
C F
P4
B E A
G C F
D G
P4
B
A D G C E A
M3 M6
R P4 m7
Aug4
m2 Dim5
M7
M2 P5 8va
m3 m6