Intervals
June 22nd, 2003
Ask Brendan is a monthly column where Guitar Educator, Brendan Burns, answers questions about music and the pursuit of Understanding and Mastering the guitar.
June 03
Q: Last month you explained how to build triads with Perfect 5ths and Major and Minor 3rds. Can you explain a little more about how to get those intervals?
B: The following is an old lesson of mine that explains how to get intervals using a One Octave Major Scale. It’s a great tool and particularly helpful in difficult key signatures.
Intervals
Understanding:
The diagram at right can serve as a “decoder” to help understand intervals. It is a visual representation of what a major scale looks like on a guitar. The “R” stands for the Root. Each number corresponds to the it’s intervallic relation with the root.
How to Use: By matching up the “R” (the root) with a note (lets use C - 8th fret; E string) this diagram shows the major scale in one octave. The numbers are scale degrees and intervals from the root.
Simply: the 2 is a 2nd from the root; the 3 is a 3rd from the root; etc.The “R” and 2 played together is a 2nd; the “R” and 3 played together is a 3rd; etc.
For Example: In the key of C the 5th is G. We can see this by lining up the Root (”R” on the diagram) with C (8th fret on E string) and see what note falls where the 5 is on the diagram.
Diagrams for other positions on the guitar:
