Intervals
An interval is the distance between two notes. When you
play a chord, you should be able to count all the intervals
and know where they are.
A scale has 8 total notes.
The root is the first note of the scale or chord.
The octave is the last note of the scale and has the
same note name as the root.
The major chords are spelled: root, third (major), and fifth.
The minor chords are spelled: root, third (minor), and fifth.
If you know these intervals, you can use many different
inversions of the same chord for different voicings.
Relative minor is 3 frets down from the root/chord/key
Example: C Major - the relative minor: Am
so to play an Am scale, simply play
the notes of the C scale.
Start on the A note (5th string open)
and count up the intervals using the C
Major scale until you reach the upper A
octave (3rd string/2nd fret)
Then do the same thing for G Major, D Major,
A Major, and E Major.
Minor Major
Sale Scale
Note# Note # Interval Fret Distance
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1 1 root 0 fret difference
minor second 1 fret difference
2 2 major second 2 fret difference
3 minor third 3 fret difference
(the minor chords)
3 major third 4 fret difference
(the major chords)
4 4 perfect fourth 5 fret difference
(suspended)
augmented fourth 6 fret difference
diminished fifth
(flat 5/b5)
5 5 perfect fifth 7 fret difference
6 minor sixth 8 fret difference
(sharp 5/#5)
6 major sixth 9 fret difference
7 minor seventh 10 fret difference
(the bluesy 7th)
7 major seventh 11 fret difference
(major scale note)
8 8 perfect octave 12 fret difference
-----------------------------------------------------------------
flat 9/b9 13 fret difference
(minor 9th)
9 9 ninth 14 fret difference
(major 9th)
10 sharp 9/#9 15 fret difference
(minor 10th)
10 flat 11/b11 16 fret difference
(major 10th)
11 11 perfect 11th 17 fret difference
(suspended)
augmented 11th 18 fret difference
diminished 12th
(flat 11/b11)
12 12 perfect 12th 19 fret difference
13 minor 13th 20 fret difference
(flat 13/b13)
13 major 13th 21 fret difference
