Music Intervals
Every interval name, distance, quality, and how to hear them
Explore Intervals on the Fretboard
Select an interval below to see it highlighted on the guitar neck (root on 6th string, 3rd fret = C).
| Interval | Semi- tones | Quality | Example (from C) | Song Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unison (P1) | 0 | Perfect | C → C | — |
| Minor 2nd (m2) | 1 | Minor | C → D♭ | Jaws theme (dun-dun) |
| Major 2nd (M2) | 2 | Major | C → D | Happy Birthday (Hap-py) |
| Minor 3rd (m3) | 3 | Minor | C → E♭ | Greensleeves (A-las) |
| Major 3rd (M3) | 4 | Major | C → E | Oh When the Saints |
| Perfect 4th (P4) | 5 | Perfect | C → F | Here Comes the Bride |
| Tritone (TT) | 6 | Augmented/Dim | C → F♯/G♭ | The Simpsons (The-Simp) |
| Perfect 5th (P5) | 7 | Perfect | C → G | Star Wars (main theme) |
| Minor 6th (m6) | 8 | Minor | C → A♭ | The Entertainer |
| Major 6th (M6) | 9 | Major | C → A | My Bonnie Lies Over |
| Minor 7th (m7) | 10 | Minor | C → B♭ | Somewhere (West Side Story) |
| Major 7th (M7) | 11 | Major | C → B | Take On Me (chorus) |
| Octave (P8) | 12 | Perfect | C → C | Somewhere Over the Rainbow |
Compound Intervals (Beyond the Octave)
Intervals larger than an octave are called compound intervals. They're the same quality as their simple counterparts, just an octave higher. These show up constantly in chord extensions.
| Compound | Semitones | Simple Equivalent | Chord Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minor 9th | 13 | Minor 2nd + octave | ♭9 chords, altered dominants |
| Major 9th | 14 | Major 2nd + octave | 9th chords (add9, maj9, dom9) |
| Minor 10th | 15 | Minor 3rd + octave | Spread voicings |
| Major 10th | 16 | Major 3rd + octave | Spread voicings, piano style |
| Perfect 11th | 17 | Perfect 4th + octave | 11th chords, sus sounds |
| Sharp 11th | 18 | Tritone + octave | Lydian chords (#11) |
| Minor 13th | 20 | Minor 6th + octave | ♭13 chords, altered dom |
| Major 13th | 21 | Major 6th + octave | 13th chords |
Understanding Music Intervals
An interval is the distance between two notes, measured in half steps (semitones). Every melody you hum and every chord you play is built from intervals. Understanding them is the single most useful thing you can learn in music theory.
Interval Qualities
Perfect intervals (unison, 4th, 5th, octave) have a pure, stable sound. They appear in both major and minor scales at the same distance. Major intervals (2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th) are the distances found in the major scale. Minor intervals are one half step smaller than their major counterparts. The tritone (augmented 4th / diminished 5th) sits exactly in the middle of the octave and creates maximum tension.
Why Intervals Matter for Guitar
Once you can see intervals on the fretboard, chord shapes stop being random finger positions and start making sense. A major chord is always root + major 3rd + perfect 5th, regardless of where you play it. Moving a note by one fret changes the interval by one semitone. This is why guitar is actually one of the most logical instruments for understanding theory — the visual layout maps directly to interval distances.
Ear Training with Intervals
The "song reference" column above gives you a hook for recognizing each interval by ear. The ascending perfect 5th sounds like the Star Wars theme. The ascending perfect 4th sounds like "Here Comes the Bride." With practice, you'll hear intervals everywhere — in melodies, in chord changes, even in car horns and doorbells.
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