Intervals

Practice it: Intervals

An interval is the distance between two notes. On the guitar you can count it in frets, since each fret is a semitone. Hear an interval and you can find the next note of a melody; know its shape and you can play it from any string.

The twelve intervals

Within an octave there's one interval for each count of semitones, from 1 to 12. Each has a short name, which the Intervals game uses, and a long one.

ShortNameSemitonesFrom C
m2minor 2nd1C to D♭
M2major 2nd2C to D
m3minor 3rd3C to E♭
M3major 3rd4C to E
P4perfect 4th5C to F
TTtritone6C to F♯/G♭
P5perfect 5th7C to G
m6minor 6th8C to A♭
M6major 6th9C to A
m7minor 7th10C to B♭
M7major 7th11C to B
P8octave12C to C

Seconds, thirds, sixths and sevenths come in two sizes a semitone apart: minor, the smaller, and major. Fourths, fifths and the octave come in one size and are called perfect. The tritone, 6 semitones, splits the octave in half. Spelled up from C it's F♯, an augmented 4th, or G♭, a diminished 5th.

Up, down and together

Play the second note after the first and the interval is melodic: ascending when the second note is higher, descending when it's lower. Play both at once and it's harmonic. A melodic interval is easiest to hear as part of a tune. A harmonic one has a sound of its own, from smooth to clashing.

Shapes on the neck

On one string, count frets: a major 3rd is 4 frets up. Across strings, learn the shapes. In standard tuning each string is a perfect 4th (5 semitones) above the one below it, except the B string, which is a major 3rd (4 semitones) above the G.

  • A perfect 4th is the same fret, one string up.
  • A perfect 5th is one string up and two frets up: the power-chord shape.
  • An octave is two strings up and two frets up.
  • Any shape that crosses from the G string to the B string needs one fret more. An octave from the D string lands three frets up on the B.
35EADGBERm2M2m3M3P4TTP5m6M6m7M7P8
Every interval above C, from the A string, fret 3. R is the root.

Songs and sounds

A song you know with the interval in it is the quickest way to recall it: hum that spot and compare. Each interval below has songs going up and going down. Pick one you know with Use this one, and the Intervals game names it when you miss that interval. Harmonic intervals have no tune, so learn how each one sounds. The Hear buttons play each interval from middle C.

Minor 2nd

m2, 1 semitone
Hear it

As a melody: the smallest step, a creep or a sigh. Together: harsh and crunchy.

Songs going up

Songs going down

Major 2nd

M2, 2 semitones
Hear it

As a melody: a plain step, like walking along a scale. Together: rubbing, but softer than a minor 2nd.

Songs going up

Songs going down

Minor 3rd

m3, 3 semitones
Hear it

As a melody: a small leap with a minor, wistful color. Together: dark and sad.

Songs going up

  • Smoke on the Water, Deep Purple: first two notes of the riffUsed in the gameSpotifyApple Music

Songs going down

Major 3rd

M3, 4 semitones
Hear it

As a melody: a bright leap: the first two notes of a major chord. Together: bright and happy.

Songs going up

Songs going down

Perfect 4th

P4, 5 semitones
Hear it

As a melody: a strong, open leap, like a call to attention. Together: open and a little unresolved.

Songs going up

Songs going down

Tritone

TT, 6 semitones
Hear it

As a melody: an uneasy leap that wants to slip a semitone further. Together: tense and unstable.

Songs going up

Songs going down

Perfect 5th

P5, 7 semitones
Hear it

As a melody: a wide, open leap that sounds heroic going up. Together: hollow and strong: the power-chord sound.

Songs going up

Songs going down

Minor 6th

m6, 8 semitones
Hear it

As a melody: a wide leap with a dark, yearning color. Together: bittersweet.

Songs going up

  • The Entertainer, Scott Joplin: main theme, 3rd to 4th noteUsed in the gameSpotifyApple Music

Songs going down

  • Love Story theme (Where Do I Begin), Francis Lai: first two notesUsed in the gameSpotifyApple Music

Major 6th

M6, 9 semitones
Hear it

As a melody: a wide, sweet leap, easy to sing. Together: warm and sweet.

Songs going up

Songs going down

  • Sweet Caroline, Neil Diamond: first two notes of the chorusUsed in the gameSpotifyApple Music

Minor 7th

m7, 10 semitones
Hear it

As a melody: a reaching leap that wants to step back a note. Together: bluesy, wanting to move.

Songs going up

  • Star Trek theme (original series), Alexander Courage: first two notes of the opening fanfareUsed in the gameSpotifyApple Music

Songs going down

  • Watermelon Man, Herbie Hancock: first two notes of the horn melodyUsed in the gameSpotifyApple Music

Major 7th

M7, 11 semitones
Hear it

As a melody: a leap that lands a semitone short of the octave. Together: sharp and jazzy.

Songs going up

Songs going down

Octave

P8, 12 semitones
Hear it

As a melody: the same note, higher or lower. Together: the same note, doubled.

Songs going up

Songs going down

  • Symphony No. 29, first movement, Mozart: first two notes of the main themeUsed in the gameSpotifyApple Music

How to practice

Start the Intervals game on its default set, going up: major 3rd, perfect 4th, perfect 5th, and octave. Add more intervals once those are quick and right. The game asks about misses and slow answers more often. Then add Down to the directions, then Together.

In Play it back, the game plays the first note and shows it on the neck, and you play the second. The mic checks the pitch, so play it on any string. That joins hearing an interval to finding it under your fingers.