Beginner Guitar Theory – 101: Intervals

BEGINNER GUITAR LESSONS – INTERVALS, CHORDS & SCALE THEORY 1.2

We have all heard at some time or another that learning scales are of utmost importance when learning any instrument.

But no-one completely explains why, or at least, explains why within layman terms.

I aim to take you through the chord construction process using intervals, then using major scale positions to help you apply this theory/method into your guitar playing.

This is only part 2 in our beginner chords guitar lesson series, here is part 1 which is on movable beginner chords.

Step 1:

Lets take some time to learn the 12 intervals.

Firstly, lets start in the key of E.

We will play the E string open, and this will be our root (the note we relate all our other notes to)

When we play the 1st fret of the E string, we are now playing an F note, which we will call a minor 2nd, also known as a semitone in relationship to the E note.

Then, we play the 2nd fret of the E string, which is an F# note and is a major 2nd in relationship to the E note also known as a tone distance from the E note.

This process continues up the fretboard until you reach the 12th fret, which is the octave, and is an E note, but higher in pitch.

Here is a diagram of the intervals from open E to 12th fret octave E.

These intervals stay the same no matter what key you are in, the order will always be there, so do take your time to remember all of them.