Guitar Scale Interval Music Theory Application

This lesson is about guitar scale interval music theory application. All chromatic guitar scale intervals spaced fret by fret on the guitar have 12 half steps. These are finite parts that make up all scales. Music intervals are like a measurement ruler to measure the distance between notes. We measure the distance between notes in half steps instead of inches like a ruler.

In music scale theory numbers are used for intervals as an easier way to measure the distance of steps between notes in a music scale or chord. If we count higher than 7 we go into the next octave and 1 starts over again as the 1 in the square of this chromatic scale on the guitar scale fret board (Ex.1). This applies to music scale theory and playing scales on guitar. In chord theory harmony we use interval numbers higher than (7) called compound intervals this will be explained later in future lesson.

Every music scale has scale formula (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 is the Major Scale, (1, b3, 4, 5, b7 is the Minor Pentatonic Scale, (1, 2 b3, 4, 5. b6, b7) Natural Minor Scale. (1, 2, 3, 5, 6) Major Pentatonic. The notes in music are taken from the first 7 letters of the alphabet A-G with 5 accidentals that each have 2 names (increment A to A# sharps & decrement B to Bb flats) C#-Db, D#-Eb, F#-Gb, G#-Ab. There is no accidental notes between B-C, and E-F (Ex.3). This can be a challenge to learn from our old mental habits of how we use letters in the alphabet also as numbers in counting and math.

The Guitar Analyzer Diagrams below display visually how to understand intervals. Showing how the scale formula bordered notes overlay the measuring distance between the notes. This creates an easy way visualize guitar scale shapes to aid guitar players who play by ear.

Instead of 1-12 it’s 1-7 and we have 5 accidental numbers b2, b3, b5, b6, b7 none between 3&4, 7&8. The Interval numbers beyond 7 are the next octave and compound intervals for chord harmony intervals. This is a bigger topic that is out scope for this lesson in scale Intervals.

Trivia: For every Major Scale there is a ghost outline of notes not played of a Pentaonic Scale & Visa Versa. Observe the guitar fingering diagrams below.