Interval – is the term used to talk about the distance between 2 notes.
There are 13 basic intervals:
Unison– C to the same C. Two of the same exact note. Like 1st fret of the B string to
5th fret of G string on the guitar.
Minor 2nd– C to Db a.k.a. 1/2 step . Like frets 1 to 2 on the B string.
Major 2nd– C to D a.k.a. whole step . Or like frets 1 to 3 on the B string.
Minor 3rd– C to Eb = 1 whole step and a 1/2 step. On the guitar: frets 1 to 4 on the B string.
Major 3rd– C to E = 2 whole steps. Same as frets 1 to 5 on B string.
Perfect 4th– C to F= 2 whole steps and a 1/2 step. Or frets 1 to 6 on the B string.
* Tritones can be spelled as a raised perfect 4th(#4) or a lowered perfect 5th (b5).
Tritone– C to F# or C to Gb = 3 whole steps or frets 1 to 7 on the B string of the guitar.
Perfect 5th– C to G= 3 whole steps and a 1/2 step. Frets 1 to 8 on the B string.
Minor 6th– C to Ab= 4 whole steps or frets 1 to 9 on the B string.
Major 6th– C to A= 4 whole steps and a 1/2 step or frets 1 to 10 on the B string.
Minor 7th– C to Bb= 5 whole steps or frets 1 to 11 on the B string of the guitar.
Major 7th– C to B= 5 whole steps and a 1/2 step or frets 1 to 12 on the B string.
Octave– C to C= 6 whole steps or frets 1 to 13 on the B string. It is different from Unison because the 2nd C is 6 whole steps higher than the starting C note.
* Here is the best way to learn how to spell out your Basic Intervals correctly:
- Spell out the letters 1st. The number of the interval is always reflected in how you spell the interval alphabetically.
A 3rd away from C is always E – C1 D2 E3 three letter names away.
A 4th away from C is always F – C1 D2 E3 F4 four letter names away
A 6th from C is always A – C1 D2 E3 F4 G5 A6 6 letter names away.
- Then, if needed, add a flat(b) or sharp(#) to the 2nd note to create the correct distance between the notes depending on if it’s a major or minor intercalThis will insure that you spell your intervals correctly every time!
Sound examples coming soon!
Previous Lesson: The Circle of Fifths
Next Lesson: The Modes Explained Simply
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2014 jeff lauffer
Response to your test. Let me know if you get this in your email. I doubt it will but there may be a better plug in that might have this feature.
Could you go into more depth about making the 2nd note in a interval or sharpe or flat
Sure. The 1st thing you should always do is find your letter name. So if you did finding a perfect 5th up from B, find your letter name by counting up 5 letters alphabetically from B and counting B as 1. So you would get B1, C2, D3, E4, F5. Now you need to make sure the distance of those notes is 3 and a 1/2 steps apart. It’s very helpful to look at a piano when doing this. If its correct leave it alone. If its short add a sharp to it. If its too far add a flat. If you’ve found the correct letter name you’ll never have to do any more than that. Always reference a diagram of a piano when doing your theory, or at least until you can clearly see it in your vision it with out one. Let me know if that makes it any clearer.