Intervals?

[Jasco]

How do I find the shapes of intervals on my guitar fretboard?

[JonR]

1. Knowing interval definitions and sizes: perfect 4ths and 5ths; major and minor 2nds, 3rds, 6ths, and 7ths; augmented and diminished 4ths and 5ths.

 

2. Knowing the tuning of the guitar; ie, the intervals between the strings (in EADGBE, it's all perfect 4ths apart from the major 3rd between G and B.

 

I'm guessing you know #2 - - so you only need to be sure of #1 to be able to work it all out.

[Jasco]

OK, so how do I learn item #1?

[Special B]

 

 

The flat (b) intervals (2, 3, 6, 7) can also be called "minor", except for the 5 which is called diminished. You can also call the sharpened 5 "augmented 5", and the interval between the 4 and 5 can be an augmented 4, not necessarily a b5.

 

So the order (one half step at a time) is: Root, minor 2, Major 2, minor 3, Major 3, Perfect 4, Augmented 4 OR diminished 5, minor 6 (sometimes Augmented 5), Major 6, minor 7, Major 7, Octave (same as Root). And this chart shows you where they go when you want to cross strings instead of going up one string.

 

Whether you call an interval Augmented 4th or diminished 5th depends on how it is used and what the other notes are. For example, in the Lydian mode that interval is an Augmented 4th, but in the Locrian mode the same note would be called a diminished 5th. This is because the Lydian mode already has a perfect 5, so the half step below it is the 4th note in the scale. In the Locrian mode there is already a perfect 4th, so the note a half step higher is the 5th in that mode.

 

Learning the modes (start with natural major and natural minor) and saying the interval names as you play should help. Once you learn all 7 modes of the major scale you will see the practical application of the different intervals. For example, R, Major 2nd, Major 3rd, Perfect 4th, Perfect 5th, Major 6th, Major 7th is the natural major scale, but R, Major 2nd, Major 3rd, Augmented 4th, Perfect 5th, Major 6th, Major 7th is the Lydian mode etc....

 

This chart makes it look like the #5 and b6 are different notes, but they are actually the same. Playing the minor 6th in the position that is marked #5 is usually easier than the position marked b6.

 

I hope this helps.

[JonR]

OK' date=' so how do I learn item #1?[/quote']Here's a continuation of the image from justinguitar that Special B posted. Sorry it's a TXT pic! The strings are horizontal in this one, so the bottom 3 lines correspond with the 3 leftmost strings in the above diagram (and I've added a fret too).

E ...-|---|-7-|-R-|---|-2-|---|-3-|-4-|-
B ...-|-4-|---|-5-|---|-6-|---|-7-|-R-|-
G ...-|---|-2-|---|-3-|-4-|---|-5-|---|-
D ...-|---|-6-|---|-7-|-R-|---|-2-|---|-
A ...-|---|-3-|-4-|---|-5-|---|-6-|---|-
E ...-|---|-7-|-R-|---|-2-|---|-3-|-4-|-

I'm only showing the major scale intervals, for clarity. The frets in between can be a # version of the note below (to the left) or flat version of the note above (right).

As Special B explains, in terms of the jargon, 4ths and 5ths are normally "perfect" (as in their above positions) but can sometimes be "diminished" (1 half-step smaller) or "augmented" (1 half-step larger). (The interval between 4 and 7 in the above pattern is an augmented 4th, if 4 up to 7, or diminished 5th if 7 up to 4. Both can be called a "tritone".)

Other intervals are either major or minor - each roughly as common as the other. In the major scale they all happen to be major (measured from the root), but minor intervals occur measured from other degrees. Eg, from 3 to 5 of the major scale is a minor 3rd (3 frets).

 

Interval names work as follows:

1. Count the note letters, starting from the bottom one as "1st", to determine the type or class of interval (you don't have to start from the root of a scale - you can start from any note, just number it as 1st);

2. Count then half-steps, to determine what size it is. (The same letter count can result in different sizes.)

So, when we count from F to B, B is the 4th note up (FGAB). So it's a 4th of some kind.

It measures 6 half-steps, which is one more than a perfect 4th. So it's an "augmented 4th" (#4).

But when we count from B up to F, it's 5 notes (BCDEF). So it's a 5th of some kind.

It measures 6 half-steps, which is one less than a perfect 5th. So it's a "diminished 5th" (#4).

 

Obviously intervals of the same size (two pairs of notes the same number of half-steps apart) will sound the same, whatever we call them! But different names - known as "enharmonics" - matter when it comes to other aspects of theory, and also when we come to naming chords: a shorthand labelling system which is based on the most significant intervals in the chord. Eg, "major" and "minor" chords are named after their 3rd intervals (root-3rd). "Diminished" chords are named after their b5.

 

Occasionally minor intervals can be diminished (1 half-step smaller) and major intervals can be augmented (1 half-step bigger). This happens in the harmonic minor scale. But you don't need to worry too much about those. (The "diminished 7th" is maybe the most important, giving its name to the dim7 chord.)

 

Get used to the major scale pattern first, as well as where b3 and b7 are in relation to the root - they're the most important minor intervals.

 

Happy to go into any more detail on this if you want. But try using the above patterns to map out the entire fretboard, and play the notes too. Check how the patterns of root-3-5 across the neck form major chord shapes of various kinds. (Chord shapes will help you learn the neck.)

[Jasco]

And how is all this going to help me play better?

[JonR]

It's simply about learning your instrument. To play better, you just need to practice playing (and using your ear).

You asked how to find the shapes of intervals, so presumably you believe that knowing interval shapes is important (and it is). You don't have to know all the jargon, but you do have to be able to find any sound you can think of.

IOW, you have to PLAY all these intervals too, to learn what they all sound like. That will help you learn songs by ear, and will also help you improvise and compose your own music. It will also help you understand (and use) chords, which are just collections of intervals.

The jargon - the names of the intervals - is simply a way to help us talk and write about them, so it's useful for that (this ) purpose. But it's the sounds and shapes you need to know as a player. (The sounds of the shapes, and the shapes of the sounds. )

[onelife]

How do I find the shapes of intervals on my guitar fretboard?

 

[wholenewissue]

 

 

thats a crazy creepy book...like some mad scientists notes...actually ted looks equally creepy in the photo...too much facial hair.

[Mason Bruce]

Looks like the Bob Ross of music cross with Carlie Manson

[The_guitar_guy]

This site has an interesting download on interval shapes and how to hear them better. http://sheldonconrich.co.uk/store/products/