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Guitar Scale Intervals
How intervals work in scales

In the introductory fret intervals lesson, we learned how the core intervals - whole steps and half steps - appear on the fretboard.

This lesson is about understanding how these whole step and half step intervals build scales - a sequence of notes.

This lesson will prove valuable even if you haven't learned any scales yet, as many scales use the same interval relationships, and you'll transfer this knowledge over when the time comes. It's a good primer in that respect.

Identifying guitar scale intervals

While whole and half step intervals are essentially the smallest building blocks of scales, it's also important to learn intervals larger than a whole step. For example, a major 3rd interval is made up of two whole steps. These larger intervals play an important part in scale and chord theory. They are responsible for creating harmony and melody.

Here is the complete list of guitar scale intervals you will come across as you learn different scales. Each interval listed is in relation to a root note (1) or "starting note". So to create the interval, simply start on any note and move up to the degree specified. The interval relationship is the same no matter which note you start on.

Minor 2nd interval

Exactly the same as a half step/semitone interval, labelled as b2 (flat 2nd) when part of a scale.

Root note on E string	Root note on A string
Root note on D string	Root note on G string
Root note on B string	Root note on e string

Major 2nd interval

Exactly the same as a whole step interval/two semitones, labelled simply as 2

Root note on E string	Root note on A string
Root note on D string	Root note on G string
Root note on B string	Root note on e string

Minor 3rd interval

One and a half steps/three semitones. Labelled as b3 (flat 3rd). This is the tone that gives a scale a minor flavour. The diagrams below show how the interval appears on the same string as the root and on the adjacent strings. Same interval, different position!

Root note on E string	Root note on A string
Root note on D string	Root note on G string
Root note on B string	Root note on e string

Major 3rd interval

Two whole steps/four semitones. Labelled as 3. This is the tone that gives a scale a major flavour. Remember, the interval on the G-B string looks different because of the different tuning interval of the G-B string in standard tuning. Unfortunately, this is one inconsistency you just have to learn!

Root note on E string	Root note on A string
Root note on D string	Root note on G string
Root note on B string	Root note on e string

Perfect 4th interval

Two and a half steps/five semitones. Labelled as 4.

Root note on E string	Root note on A string
Root note on D string	Root note on G string
Root note on B string	Root note on e string

Augmented 4th / Diminished 5th

Three whole steps/six semitones. Often called the "tritone" because of these 3 steps. This can be labelled #4 or b5 depending on the context. We'll look more at this in the individual scale lessons. Just know at this stage that it's the same interval.

Root note on E string	Root note on A string
Root note on D string	Root note on G string
Root note on B string	Root note on e string

Perfect 5th interval

Three and a half steps/seven semitones. Labelled as 5.

Root note on E string	Root note on A string
Root note on D string	Root note on G string
Root note on B string	Root note on e string

Augmented 5th / Minor 6th interval

Four whole steps/eight semitones. Labelled as #5 or b6 (same tone, different context, which you'll learn about in time).

Root note on E string	Root note on A string
Root note on D string	Root note on G string
Root note on B string	Root note on e string

Major 6th

Four and a half steps/nine semitones. Labelled as 6. Although in the second row of diagrams the interval is descending from the root note, it's still a major 6th interval because of the relationship between the two notes.

Root note on E string	Root note on A string
Root note on D string	Root note on G string
Root note on B string	Root note on e string

Minor 7th interval

Five whole steps/ten semitones. Most often labelled at b7 (flat 7th). Best visualised as a whole step down from the root.

Root note on E string	Root note on A string
Root note on D string	Root note on G string
Root note on B string	Root note on e string

Major 7th interval

Five and a half steps/eleven semitones. Labelled as 7 in scales. Best visualised as a half step/semitone down from the root.

Root note on E string	Root note on A string
Root note on D string	Root note on G string
Root note on B string	Root note on e string

Another semitone up from the major 7th and you're at the octave (the same as the root, but higher in pitch).

So, in total, we have 12 semitones that provide us with the guitar scale interval relationships above.

You should get to know how each of these intervals sound. Most musicians at advanced stages know the sound of these intervals (known as relative pitch).

The root note defines which note the interval is related to. If the root note lies on the note G, for example, that means a minor 3rd interval would create a G minor interval. The root note is our "starting note" in a given scale to which all the intervals of the scale are measured.

If we were to lay out the above intervals across one string (any string), with the open string representing the root note (1), this is what we'd get...

Every scale you will learn on guitar will use different combinations of those intervals.

If you look at the major scale "boxed" pattern below, you can see how some of these intervals provide the building blocks of that particular scale...

So by identifying the root notes of the scale, we can see the interval relationships we learned above appearing across the 6 strings.

As you move on to learning scales, and you encounter different intervals, your visual and auditory sense for these intervals will gradually improve.

To learn how to really use these intervals to play fluid, effortless solos, I highly recommend the Guitar Scale Mastery Course.

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Guitar Scale Intervals How intervals work in scales

Identifying guitar scale intervals

Guitar Scale Intervals
How intervals work in scales