Introduction to Intervals for Guitar

Understanding intervals is one of the quickest ways to deepen your knowledge of the guitar fretboard. Intervals are the foundational building blocks of music, and they’re at the heart of everything from simple chords to complex solos. By learning intervals, you can begin to see connections between notes, which will make constructing chords, building scales, and improvising much more intuitive.

For guitarists, intervals provide a new way of looking at the fretboard—one that’s more about relationships between notes rather than memorizing positions. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned player, knowing intervals will help you unlock new layers of musical understanding and creativity. In this guide, we'll break down what intervals are, how to find them on the guitar, and why they’re so essential to your playing.

What Are Intervals?

Intervals are simply the distance between two notes. This distance can be measured in terms of pitch, which determines how high or low one note is relative to another. Intervals are foundational in music because they define the unique sound of every chord and scale. They can be played either as melodic intervals (one note played after another) or as harmonic intervals (two notes played together).

On the guitar, we often think of intervals in terms of frets and strings, which makes it easier to visualize the space between notes. For example, moving up by one fret on the same string represents a half step interval, while moving up two frets equals a whole step. These half and whole steps are the building blocks of larger intervals and can be used to construct chords and scales in a way that’s intuitive on the guitar.

Understanding intervals will help you start to see patterns across the fretboard. You’ll be able to recognize how different intervals feel and sound, which can improve both your rhythm and lead playing.

Types of Intervals

Intervals come in various types, each with a unique sound and feel. Understanding these types and their names will help you better recognize and use them when building chords, scales, or melodies. Here are the main categories of intervals:

1. Half Steps and Whole Steps

   • These are the smallest building blocks for intervals. A half step (or semitone) is the distance of one fret on the guitar, while a whole step (or whole tone) is the distance of two frets.
   • For example, moving from the 5th fret to the 6th fret on the same string is a half step; moving from the 5th fret to the 7th fret is a whole step.

2. Perfect Intervals

   • These intervals have a “stable” sound and include the Perfect Unison (same note), Perfect 4th, Perfect 5th, and Perfect Octave.
   • For example, the distance between an open string and the 12th fret of that same string is a Perfect Octave.

3. Major and Minor Intervals

   • Major intervals generally sound “happier” or brighter and include the Major 2nd, Major 3rd, Major 6th, and Major 7th.
   • Minor intervals sound slightly darker or sadder and include the Minor 2nd, Minor 3rd, Minor 6th, and Minor 7th.
   • Minor intervals are typically one half step smaller than their major counterparts. For example, a Minor 3rd is one fret lower than a Major 3rd.

4. Augmented and Diminished Intervals

   • Augmented intervals are one half step larger than a perfect or major interval. For example, an Augmented 4th is one fret higher than a Perfect 4th.
   • Diminished intervals are one half step smaller than a perfect or minor interval. For instance, a Diminished 5th is one fret lower than a Perfect 5th.
   • These intervals often create a unique tension and are frequently used in jazz, metal, and other styles that thrive on harmonic complexity.

5. Common Intervals for Guitarists to Know

   • Some intervals appear more often in popular music and are especially useful for guitarists. These include the Minor 2nd (one fret up from the root), Major 3rd (four frets up), Perfect 5th (seven frets up), and Major 6th (nine frets up).
   • Learning to recognize and play these intervals can expand your understanding of melodies, harmonies, and riffs.

By learning and practicing these interval types, you’ll be better equipped to recognize them in songs and use them effectively in your own playing.

How to Find Intervals on the Guitar

Finding intervals on the guitar is a mix of counting frets and recognizing patterns across the strings. Here are some fundamental techniques to help you locate intervals on the fretboard quickly and easily.

1. Counting Frets for Half and Whole Steps

   • Start with the root note, or the note you want to use as your reference.
   • Move up by one fret to reach a half step interval and by two frets for a whole step. For instance, if you start on the 5th fret, moving up one fret (to the 6th) is a half step, and two frets up (to the 7th) is a whole step.
   • This is a great method for locating simple intervals like the Minor 2nd (one fret away) or Major 2nd (two frets away).

2. Interval Shapes Across the Strings

   • Each interval has a recognizable shape across the strings, making it easier to locate them anywhere on the fretboard.
   • For example, a Perfect 5th is typically two frets up and one string down from the root note (except between the G and B strings, where it’s three frets up due to tuning).
   • A Major 3rd is found four frets up and one string down from the root, or, if you’re staying on the same string, it’s simply four frets higher.

3. Octave Patterns

   • Octaves are a helpful tool for finding intervals, as they’re identical notes but in a higher pitch.
   • To find the octave of a note, go two strings down and two frets up. This works consistently across the strings, except when moving from the G to B string, where you’ll need to add an extra fret.
   • By locating octaves, you can anchor yourself and quickly locate intervals relative to both the root and the octave position.

4. Horizontal vs. Vertical Intervals

   • Horizontal intervals move along the same string. This is useful for creating melodic lines and understanding how intervals work in linear sequences. For example, moving up by 5 frets on a single string will give you a Perfect 4th.
   • Vertical intervals move across strings and are ideal for chords or dyads (two-note combinations). Learning interval shapes across strings can help you form harmonies and build chords effortlessly.

5. Practical Application: Interval Patterns in Common Chords

   • Many basic chord shapes incorporate interval patterns that are worth memorizing. For instance, the open C chord includes a Major 3rd (between the root and E note on the D string) and a Perfect 5th (between the root and G note on the B string).
   • By dissecting these chords and recognizing the intervals within them, you’ll improve both your understanding of harmony and your ability to adapt these shapes elsewhere on the fretboard.

By practicing these techniques, you’ll start to see how intervals connect across the guitar neck. With time, this will become second nature, making it easier to build chords, navigate scales, and find harmonies in any key or position.

Using Intervals to Build Chords and Scales

Intervals aren’t just a theoretical concept; they’re the building blocks of every chord and scale you’ll ever play. By understanding how intervals combine, you can create chords and scales in any key and even craft your own variations. Here’s a look at how intervals come together to form these essential musical elements:

1. Building Chords with Intervals

   • A chord is simply a combination of specific intervals stacked together. The most basic type of chord, the triad, is made up of three notes: the root, a 3rd, and a 5th.
   • For example, a Major triad uses a Major 3rd (four frets up from the root) and a Perfect 5th (seven frets up from the root). This combination gives the chord its bright, stable sound.
   • Minor triads follow a similar pattern, but use a Minor 3rd (three frets up from the root) instead, giving a darker feel.
   • By adding more intervals, such as a Minor 7th or a Major 7th, you create more complex chords like 7th chords and extended chords.

2. Constructing Scales with Intervals

   • Scales are sequences of intervals that create a specific pattern of notes. The Major scale, one of the most fundamental scales, follows a pattern of whole steps and half steps: W-W-H-W-W-W-H (whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half).
   • This pattern of intervals gives the Major scale its distinctive, bright sound. Every other scale, from Minor to Pentatonic to Blues, is formed by altering the intervals within this pattern.
   • For example, the Minor scale uses a different pattern of intervals (W-H-W-W-H-W-W), which gives it a distinctively sadder tone compared to the Major scale.

3. Using Intervals to Create Harmony

   • Harmony is essentially the combination of notes played together to support a melody, and intervals are at the heart of it. When you play two notes at once—like a Major 3rd or a Perfect 5th—you create harmony.
   • Many classic guitar riffs and licks use intervals to create harmonized parts. For example, playing a line using only 3rds or 5ths can add depth and dimension to your playing.

4. Intervals in Common Chord Progressions

   • Common chord progressions are based on intervals between chords, often derived from the Nashville Number System, which assigns a number to each chord degree in a key. For instance, a 1-4-5 progression in the key of G would mean G, C, and D chords—each a specific interval distance apart.
   • Recognizing intervals between chords can help you understand why certain progressions sound natural and can give you the tools to transpose or adapt progressions to different keys with ease.

5. Practical Application: Experimenting with Intervals to Create New Chord Voicings

   • Once you understand how intervals form chords, you can begin experimenting with different voicings. For example, instead of playing a simple Major chord, you could try an Add9 or Suspended chord by altering or adding intervals within the chord.
   • Adjusting intervals is a great way to create unique sounds, add variety to familiar chord shapes, and develop your own musical style.

By mastering intervals, you’ll be able to break down and construct chords and scales on the fly, making it easier to understand songs, create your own music, and expand your knowledge of the fretboard. Intervals open the door to greater musical flexibility and creativity on the guitar.

Practical Exercises

To internalize intervals and make them a natural part of your playing, here are some practical exercises you can work through on your guitar. These exercises will help you identify, play, and recognize intervals all over the fretboard, improving your fretboard knowledge and musical ear.

1. Identify Intervals by Counting Frets

   • Pick a note on the low E string (for example, the 5th fret, an A note).
   • Practice finding specific intervals from this note, like the Minor 3rd (three frets up), Perfect 5th (seven frets up), and Major 6th (nine frets up).
   • Repeat this exercise on different strings and in different positions on the neck to develop a sense of where each interval lies on the fretboard.

2. Interval Shapes Across Strings

   • Choose a root note on the D string and practice finding common intervals like the Major 3rd, Perfect 4th, and Perfect 5th on the G and B strings.
   • Familiarize yourself with the shapes for these intervals across adjacent strings; this will help you quickly identify intervals in any playing context.
   • Repeat this exercise on other pairs of strings (such as A to D and G to B) to learn how tuning affects interval shapes.

3. Play Intervals in Different Keys

   • Starting from a root note, practice playing intervals in various keys. For instance, start on G on the 3rd fret of the E string, and find the Major and Minor 3rds, Perfect 4ths, and Perfect 5ths in that key.
   • Move to another key (for example, D on the 10th fret of the E string) and repeat the process, visualizing how intervals relate to the root in each key.

4. Ear Training with Intervals

   • Play an interval, such as a Major 3rd or Perfect 5th, and listen closely to its unique sound. Practice playing this interval at different positions on the fretboard and in different octaves to reinforce its sound in your ear.
   • Once you’re comfortable, try identifying intervals by ear. Have a friend or teacher play two notes, and see if you can recognize the interval by sound alone.

5. Harmonize a Simple Melody

   • Take a simple melody, such as “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” and harmonize it by playing a 3rd above or below each note.
   • Start by figuring out the notes of the melody, then apply a Major or Minor 3rd interval (as appropriate) to harmonize each note.
   • This exercise will strengthen your ability to recognize intervals and use them to create harmonies on the fly.

6. Chord Construction Using Intervals

   • Choose a basic chord shape, like a G Major or C Major, and analyze the intervals within it. Identify the root, 3rd, and 5th of each chord and where they lie in the shape.
   • Experiment by altering one of the intervals in the chord. For example, lower the 3rd of a Major chord by one fret to create a Minor chord, or add a Minor 7th above the root to create a Dominant 7th chord.
   • This exercise will help you see how intervals build chords and give you more control over crafting different sounds with familiar shapes.

7. Interval Drills for Speed and Accuracy

   • Set a metronome to a slow pace and practice playing specific intervals, such as Perfect 5ths, all over the fretboard in time with the beat.
   • Gradually increase the tempo, focusing on accuracy and consistency. This will help solidify your knowledge of intervals and improve your dexterity and confidence in playing them.

By regularly practicing these exercises, you’ll develop a deep understanding of intervals, both visually and audibly, across the fretboard. Over time, you’ll find it easier to apply intervals to your playing, making your chords, scales, and melodies richer and more intentional.

Bringing Intervals into Your Playing

Mastering intervals is a powerful way to expand your musical vocabulary on the guitar. With a solid grasp of intervals, you can unlock the structure behind chords, scales, and melodies, making your playing more intentional and expressive.

Whether you’re creating harmonies, improvising solos, or building complex chord shapes, intervals provide a roadmap that takes you beyond simply memorizing shapes and patterns. As you practice these exercises, take time to listen to each interval's unique sound, internalize their positions on the fretboard, and experiment with applying them in your music.

With intervals as part of your toolkit, you'll find yourself equipped to play with more freedom, understanding, and creativity. Keep practicing, and soon enough, intervals will become second nature, opening up new pathways for musical growth.