Intro to Intervals

An Interval is the distance between two notes. Each interval has its own name.

If you learn the name, structure, and sound of each interval it helps you
understand music you hear on another level. I have found
that working with intervals allows me to play the ideas I hear in my head
on the guitar. The value of intervals becomes clearer once you
start working with them.

THE NAMES:
To learn the names of the interals let's start with the 7 notes of the C major scale:
CDEFGAB
1 2 345 6 7

The intervals between the first note of a major scale and each other scale degree are:
1 - 2 = Major 2nd
1 - 3 = Major 3rd
1 - 4 = Perfect 4th
1 - 5 = Perfect 5th
1 - 6 = Major 6th
1 - 7 = Major 7th

So for C major scale, the intervals are:

C - D = Major 2nd
C - E = Major 3rd
C - F = Perfect 4th
C - G = Perfect 5th
C - A = Major 6th
C - B = Major 7th

As you can see, 2nd's, 3rd's, 6th's and 7th's are labled "Major" while 4th's
and 5th's are "Perfect."
If you sharp or flat any of the intervals, the name of the interval changes.

If you flat an interval that is labled "Major," it becomes "Minor":

C - D = Major 2nd
C - Db = Minor 2nd

If you flat an interval that is labled "Perfect," it becomes "Diminished":

C - G = Perfect 5th
C - Gb = Diminished 5th

If a "Minor" interval is flatted again, then it becomes "Diminished":

C - E = Major 3rd
C - Eb = Minor 3rd
C - Ebb = Diminished 3rd. (Yes that's a real thing, it's just pretty rare because
Ebb is the same note as D, so it will usually just be called D except for
circumstances where the composer feels using Ebb will make more sense
in analysis.)

If you sharp an interval that is labled "Major," then it becomes augmented.

C - D = Major 2nd
C - D# = Augmented 2nd

The same rule applies to "Perfect" intervals:

C - F = Perfect 4th
C - F# = Augmented 4th
Here is a guide to most of the intervals relative to C within an octave:
C1 - C1 = Unison
C - Db = Minor 2nd
C - D = Major 2nd
C - D# = Augmented 2nd
C - Eb = Minor 3rd
C - E = Major 3rd
C - F = Perfect 4th
C - F# = Augmented 4th
C - Gb = Diminished 5th
C - G = Perfect 5th
C - G# = Augmented 5th
C - Ab = Minor 6th
C - A = Major 6th
C - Bb = Minor 7th
C - B = Major 7th
C1 - C2 = Octave

If you want to find the interval relative to any other note besides C,
just use the major scale for that note as a foundation.
Example relative to D (DEF#GABC#):
D1 - D1 = Unison
D - Eb = Minor 2nd
D - E = Major 2nd
D - E# = Augmented 2nd
D - F = Minor 3rd
D - F# = Major 3rd
D - G = Perfect 4th
D - G# = Augmented 4th
D - Ab = Diminished 5th
D - A = Perfect 5th
D - A# = Augmented 5th
D - Bb = Minor 6th
D - B = Major 6th
D - C = Minor 7th
D - C# = Major 7th
D1 - D2 = Octave
 So let's say you see these two notes:
w
Guitar & 44 w

T 5
Guitar A 3
B

The bottom note is F and the top note is E. You can identify what the interval is called by first
recalling the F major scale, FGABbCDE, and then counting up from F.

F =1
G=2
A=3
Bb = 4
C=5
D=6
E=7

So F - E = Major 7th since E is the 7th note in the F major scale.

Now let's say you see these two notes:

bw
2

Gtr. & w

4
Gtr. 3

The bottom note is F and the top note is Eb.

Since E natural is the major 7th in F, Eb is the minor 7th

So F - E = Major 7th since E is the 7th note in the F major scale

and F - Eb = Minor 7th.
 Intro to Intervals 5

Identify these intervals (answers on the next page):

ww bw ww
3

Gtr. & ww w

3
Gtr. 4
3 7 3
7 11
8

w
& bw b ww b ww ww
7

Gtr.

8 3
Gtr. 3 3
6 5 7
5
 6 Intro to Intervals

Answers:

A-D Perfect 4th

ww
E-F Minor 2nd C-Ab Minor 6th F - B = Augmented 4th
bw ww
11

Gtr. & ww w

3
Gtr. 4
3 7 3
7 11
8

wAb-G = Major 7th

b ww b ww
Bb-D = Major 3rd G - Bb = Minor 3rd
& bw w
15 D - A = Perfect 5th
Gtr.
w

8 3
Gtr. 3 3
6 5 7
5