Guitar Intervals on the Fretboard - Interval Patterns

In the previous guitar intervals lesson we learned how intervals are the building blocks
of music, specifying the relative distance between pitches.

Now it's time to transfer this knowledge to the fretboard and make some serious
progress.

By working on the interval charts in this lesson, you'll be able to visualize any interval
across the entire fretboard, no matter where your starting note may be. It's another step
towards organizing the fretboard into identifiable patterns.

This translates into free flowing, intuitive improvisation skills and an ability to connect
different musical elements (e.g. chords, scales and arpeggios). It also means you won't
get lost on the neck! So although it's not the most exciting stuff to learn, put in the time
now and I promise you'll never look back.

Guitar Interval Charts to Aid Fretboard Memorization

In the previous part we laid out the intervals of the chromatic scale along a single string.
This was our first step in visualizing intervals on the fretboard...

But we also need to know where intervals lie on other strings, no matter where our
starting note is.

How to Break It Down

Study one interval every day for around 10-20 minutes (or as much as you can) for
around one week, then move on to the next interval. Break it up like this, mix it with
your regular practice/noodling, and it won't fry your brain as much!

You'll notice the charts show multiple positions for a given interval. Look at the interval
numbers - you'll see that intervals appear in multiple places in close proximity to a
starting note (1).

The note patterns we learned in a previous lesson become even more significant when
learning intervals. The below charts essentially combine the two elements.

In short, these interval patterns are movable and represent the same notes on different
strings. If in doubt, pick a spot on the fretboard and play through the notes shown in the
diagram from the lowest to highest string (or vice versa). You'll hear they
are different octaves of the same interval.
Minor 2nd Interval

Starting on the 1st, 4th and 6th strings

Starting on the 2nd, 3rd and 5th strings

Tip: As you probably know from previous lessons, if you identify a note on one of the E
strings, you'll find the same note on the other E string at the same fret.

Major 2nd Interval

Starting on the 1st, 4th and 6th strings
 Starting on the 2nd, 3rd and 5th strings

Tip: Make sure you play around these patterns so you internalise the sound of the
interval, as well as its spatial relationship.

Minor 3rd Interval

Starting on the 1st, 4th and 6th strings

Starting on the 2nd, 3rd and 5th strings

Tip: The minor 3rd is what gives minor chords and scales their minor sound. Try playing
1 and ♭3 together to hear it.
Major 3rd Interval
Starting on the 1st, 4th and 6th strings

Starting on the 2nd, 3rd and 5th strings

Tip: The major 3rd is what gives major chords and scales their major sound. Try playing
1 and 3 together to hear it.
Perfect 4th Interval
Starting on the 1st, 4th and 6th strings

Starting on the 2nd, 3rd and 5th strings

Augmented 4th / Diminished 5th Interval

Starting on the 1st, 4th and 6th strings
 Starting on the 2nd, 3rd and 5th strings

Tip: The ♯4 is also known as the tritone - three consecutive whole tones (W W W). This
gives it what is known as symmetry - the distance between 1 and ♯4 is the same as
between ♯4 and the octave 1. That's why the two diagrams look inverted .

Perfect 5th Interval

Starting on the 1st, 4th and 6th strings

Starting on the 2nd, 3rd and 5th strings

Tip: Play the 1 and 5 together to get the famous power chord used in a lot of rock and
metal. It's called "perfect" because of its high degree of consonance (a feeling of unity
when played together).

Augmented 5th / Minor 6th Interval

Starting on the 1st, 4th and 6th strings

Starting on the 2nd, 3rd and 5th strings

Tip: Intervals aren't just about movements between single notes. If we

build a minor chord on the 1 and move to a major chord on the ♭6,
you get a common minor key movement. So chord movements can
also be considered in terms of intervals.
Major 6th Interval
Starting on the 1st, 4th and 6th strings

Starting on the 2nd, 3rd and 5th strings

Minor 7th Interval

Starting on the 1st, 4th and 6th strings

Starting on the 2nd, 3rd and 5th strings

Tip: The ♭7 can also be seen as one whole step below a given root.

Major 7th Interval

Starting on the 1st, 4th and 6th strings

Starting on the 2nd, 3rd and 5th strings

Tip: The 7 can also be seen as one half step below a given root.

Test Yourself

After memorising these interval units, you should be able to play at least one octave per
interval. For example, with the major 3rd interval, if 8 is the octave, you should be able
to play 1 - 3 - 8, without hesitation.

If you know the notes on the fretboard, you should be able to see which notes you're
playing as you move through these interval relationships. For example, 1 - 3 - 8 starting
on C would be C - E - c (small c for the octave!). I personally don't feel this
is as important as being able to see relative intervals, but the more you can get from
this, the less work will be required later on.
You can also test your interval knowledge using this great training app.

You may not realise this yet, but when you play through these interval sequences,
you're actually building the solid ground work for playing arpeggios, chords and scales.
Much of the work will already be done when you come to learn these elements in any
depth.

As soon as you move on to the arpeggio, chord theory and scale lessons, you'll likely
experience a "eureka" moment. It'll all suddenly come together.

This is when your playing really starts to move to the next level.

But we're not quite done with intervals yet! In the next and final intervals lesson, we'll
cement this knowledge further by creating sequences of two and more intervals (e.g. 1 -
3 - 4 - 8). This will help you see intervals not only in relation to a starting note, but
also neighbouring intervals related to that same root.

Thanks for your time and patience and your faith in the rewards that will come from this.

HOW TO PLAY INTERVALS 1 THROUGH 7 ON THE GUITAR

Beginning guitarists can learn a great deal from playing intervals. The distance from the

1st to the 2nd scale degrees in the major scale is called a second interval, from the 1st

to the 3rd is called a third, from the 1st to the 4th is called a fourth, and so on. Here’s

what makes up each interval:

 2nd: A whole step above the 1st scale degree.

 3rd: Two whole steps or over a string and back one fret.

 4th: Two and a half steps or over one string.

 5th: Three and a half steps or over a string and up two frets.

 6th: Four and a half steps or over two strings and back one fret. (The same note

is also over one string and up two whole steps.)

 7th: Five and a half steps or over two strings and up one fret. (A 7th is one half

step shy of an octave.)

When you move from string 3 to 2 to play an interval, you need to move up an extra fret

because the 2nd string is tuned a half step lower than the others.

A 3rd is normally over a string and back one fret, but when moving from string 3 to 2, a

3rd is over a string and in the very same fret. Normally a 4th is over one string, but it’s

up one fret from string 3 to 2.

Moving from the 6th string to the 1st, everything changes at the 2nd string, and an extra

fret is needed. Because the 1st string is tuned to the 2nd string in the same manner that
strings 6 to 3 are tuned, intervals between them are normal .

3RDS

Guitarists often play harmonic intervals, which are really just intervals you play together

to create harmony. Thirds are a common harmonic interval.

To play thirds, play the 1st and 3rd scale degrees simultaneously and then ascend or

descend the scale in groups of two with the notes always 3 scale degrees apart. You

can do this in five different positions by following this tab.

Credit: Illustration courtesy of Desi Serna

This example shows just five examples in the G major scale. You can play in 3rds in

other keys by starting at a different fret and using the same interval shapes. For

example, start on A at the 5th fret of the 6th string to play 3rds in the A major scale.
Many songs feature guitar parts played in 3rds. One of the best examples is the

opening to “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison. The guitar plays the G major scale in
3rds over the G chord and the C major scale in 3rds over the C chord .

6THS (OR INVERTED 3RDS)

Sometimes guitarists invert 3rds by moving the 1st degree up an octave. What was 1-3

becomes 3-1. The interval is inverted, get it? For example, G-B would become B-G.

This shows examples of inverting the 3rd G-B.

Credit: Illustration courtesy of Desi Serna

With intervals, you always count from the note in the lowest position to the note in the

highest position. Thus, inverted 3rds are more commonly called 6ths. G to B is 3 scale

degrees (G-A-B, one-two-three), so the interval is called a 3rd. B to G, on the other

hand, is 6 scale degrees (B-C-D-E-F♯-G, one-two-three-four-five-six), so it’s called a

6th.

You can play through the whole scale in 6ths in two different positions by following this

tab. Because you only want to sound the notes in the tab and not the other strings, and

because these interval shapes are two strings apart, you need to either fingerpick or

apply some left-hand muting technique (like you do with octave shapes).
Harmony-wise, when you play in 6ths, you hear 3rds and roots, but technically, the

distance between each pair of notes from low to high is identified as a 6th.

5THS

By far, the most popular harmonic interval among guitar players is the 5th. After all, a

root and a 5th make up the so-called power chord that appears in almost every distorted

rock song ever recorded. A 5th is written as G5, A5, and so on in a chord chart.

This example shows the G scale in 5ths in two different positions. Notice that the 7th

scale degree has a 5th that’s different from all the rest. It naturally occurs one half step

lower in the scale and is called a flat 5th.

Credit: Illustration courtesy of Desi Serna

4THS (OR INVERTED 5THS)

Sometimes guitarists invert 5ths by moving the lower note up an octave while keeping

the upper note the same. For instance, G-D would become D-G.

Credit: Illustration courtesy of Desi Serna

Inverted 5ths are called 4ths for the same reason that inverted 3rds are called 6ths. G to

D is a 5th (G-A-B-C-D), while D to G is a 4th (D-E-F♯-G). You can play the G major

scale in 4ths by following this tab.

Credit: Illustration courtesy of Desi Serna

In harmony, when you play in 4ths you hear the upper note of the interval as the root

and the lower one as the 5th, but technically, the distance between each pair of notes

from low to high is a 4th.

By far the most famous example of using 4ths is in the song “Smoke on the Water” by

Deep Purple. The opening guitar riff uses 4ths in G minor. Other songs include “Money

For Nothing” by Dire Straits and “Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd.