What are the Intervals or Guitar Intervals?

The Distance between any two notes is called Interval. the name of the intervals is based on the amount of scale steps they contain. Intervals can be identified by their position in the diatonic scale. The most fundamental of all intervals is the octave. It determines the first and last notes. All other intervals are then named according to their distance from the first note of the scale. They are called seconds, thirds, fourths, fifths, sixths and sevenths.

                                       This system covers the eight notes (including octave) that make up the diatonic major scale. But as we know the octave is divided into twelve semi tones, producing thirteen different notes. Since each of these has its own sound characteristic, there is a system of names which further defines each interval as being perfect, major, minor, augmented or diminished. Below are the rules to identify the intervals:-

• A major interval lowered by a semi tone becomes a minor interval.
• A minor interval raised by a semi tone becomes a major interval.
• A major interval raised by a semi tone becomes an augmented interval.
• A minor interval lowered by a semi tone becomes a diminished interval.
• A perfect interval raised by a semi tone becomes an augmented interval.
• A perfect interval lowered by a semi tone becomes a diminished interval.

If we take a G major scale (notes of the G major scale are G A B C D E F# G) and I play from the 1st note to the 2nd (play G note then A) note, that interval is known as "second interval", so from G to A is Second. If I play from the 1st note to the 3rd (play G & then B) note G to B that is called 3rd interval. If we play 1st note to the fourth note G to C that is called 4th interval. If we play 1st note to the 5th note G to D that is known as 5th. And if we continue from 1st note to the 6th G to E is called 6th & from 1st note to the 7th G to F# is called 7th interval. This information is useful if someone plays a G note & ask you to play 3rd or 5th above it. You should know this to talk to other musicians. Now Let's take a look into the Interval types:-

Melodic Intervals:- If we play one note after another, those are called melodic intervals.

Harmonic Intervals:- If we play two notes simultaneously, those are called Harmonic Intervals.

Ex:- If you need to play 3rds in the G major Scale then you will play G & B, A & C,B & D,C & E,D & F#, E & G,F# & A,G & B. Please note that you need to play the two notes simultaneously.  If you want to play the same exercise with Melodic Intervals then please play the notes as given above one after another.

I hope this is the enough information to understand the Intervals.