NAVIGATE the FRETBOARD Effortlessly Using the INTERVALS?

Knowing the intervals greatly expands your horizon on playing guitar, as it opens up more routes for you to practice and build your own playing style. In this article, we will go through the 4 most popular intervals, namely: the major and minor 3rds, perfect 5^th, major and minor 6^th and major and minor 7^th. Each of these will bring a different feel to your sound, and mastering all of these will surely guarantee your improvement in becoming the king of the strings.

As per the definition of intervals, all of these patterns are movable across the fretboard. This is one of the biggest advantages of guitars compared to other musical instruments. In this article, we will be using the key of G for all the intervals in all demonstrations.

1. The major and minor 3^rd’s

Starting with the 3^rd’s. This, perhaps, is one of the most memorable and easily executed patterns. We will start with the root note – G. We will place one finger on the 3^rd fret of the E string, where the G note is located. Then we lay the second finger on the B note on the 2^nd fret of the A string, completing a major 3^rd.

But, rather than remembering these intervals as notes, it is usually easier to visualize and memorise them as shapes. So, instead of knowing the G major 3^rd’s consist of G – as root note and a B note, we will remember its shape – our positions on the fretboard – to play it on almost any strings. This way, the G major 3^rd is one finger on the upper string and another finger on the string right below and one fret lower. Now we can easily execute the G major across the fretboard wherever the G is. For instance, on the E string, we can have a Major 3^rd by playing 3^rd fret 6^th string and 2^nd fret A string, but we can also have this pattern applied on the 10^th fret of the A string and 9^th fret of the D string, it is also applicable on the D and the B strings as well. However, due to the tuning of the guitar, major 3^rd on the G string will be played on the 12^th fret of both G and B string.

Knowing about the major 3^rd will make learning the minor 3^rd a piece of cake. Still using the key of G, we will have G, as a root note, and B flat, which means it is one fret towards the nut compared with G major 3^rd. The pattern from now is very straightforward, the minor 3^rd is played by the root note on the upper strings and the lower strings two frets lower. Of course, for the G string, it is played by G note of the 12^th and 11^th fret on the B string.

2. Perfect 5^th

For G perfect 5^th, place one finger on the root note – a G and another on the D note of the string right below. Again, in learning guitar intervals, remember that these intervals are movable and applicable on other positions across the fretboard. The pattern for the G perfect 5^th is a G and 2 frets higher on the lower string. For instance, if we want to play the G perfect 5^th on the B string simply put one finger on the G note at the 8^th fret and another finger on the 10^th fret of the high E string. Of course, for the D string, you will have to make an exception and move the note on the lower string 3 frets higher.

3. Major and Minor 6^th

G Major 6^th has a certain unique feel to it. It is more mysterious than other intervals and thus more characteristic. Major 6^th is very similar to perfect 5^th, it consists of G note and E flat. Thus, think of the pattern as the perfect 5^th but we play the lower string 3 frets higher. However, some players may find this quite a gap, especially for newer learners. Our recommendation is to play the 1^st fret on another lower string. Now we can form the pattern as a G note and 2 frets lower on the other string. Again, we can apply this pattern on many positions. Let’s say we’d like to play on the A string then simply put one finger on the 10^th fret and the other finger on the 8^th fret of the G string. Kindly reminder to make an exception for the D string, where you need to move the other note one fret higher.

Minor 6^th is very similar to its major counterpart. The G minor 6^th is played by the G note and an E. As E is one fret higher than E flat, you can play the G minor 6^th exactly as the G major 6^th except move the other string 1 fret higher. For instance, to play the G minor 6^th on the A string, apply the same pattern as the G major 6^th – 10^th fret on the A string but on the B string, play the 9^th fret instead of the 8^th. Again, be sure to make an exception if the root note is on the D string.

4. Major and Minor 7^th’s

Major 7^th

The 7^th’s brings a more solemn tone to the song. You will encounter the 7^th chords quite often in slow pop songs.

Composition wise, the G 7^th major is played using the G root note and F sharp. For this reason, its pattern is also very similar to the previous minor 6^th, which has an E. As E is one whole step lower than F sharp, we play the F sharp by moving two frets from the E. Also, because of their similarity, we can form the pattern of the major 7^th using the minor 6^th. For example, to play the G major 7^th on the A string, we play the G minor 6^th: 10^th fret on A string but on the A string, we play the 11^th fret, instead of 9^th.

Minor 7th

Minor 7^th is again, almost identical to major 7^th. Instead of the F sharp, we have an F, making forming and applying the pattern simpler. We simply form the 7^th major and move 1 fret lower from the F sharp to have an F. For instance, we can have the G minor 7^th on the A string by placing one finger on the 10^th fret A string and 10^th fret of the G string. In conclusion, the overall pattern for the G minor 7^th is the root note and the note on the same fret 2 strings lower.