Intervals
The notes that you play on the guitar are measured in pitch. Pitch corresponds with how high or low a note sounds. The distance in pitch between two notes is called an interval.
The smallest interval is a semitone. A semitone is the distance in pitch between two adjacent frets on a guitar. If you play fret 5 on any string of the guitar, then play fret 6 on the same string, you will hear the difference. An interval of 2 semitones (two frets) can also be called a tone. An interval of 12 semitones (12 frets) is called an octave.
1 fret = a semitone
2 frets = a tone
12 frets = an octave
On the chromatic scale, a semitone is the distance between two adjacent notes (A and A#). If you ascend 12 semitones in the chromatic scale you end up on note you started on, but the note is an octave higher in pitch.
| No. of semitones | Interval name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Minor second |
| 2 | Major second |
| 3 | Minor third |
| 4 | Major third |
| 5 | Perfect fourth |
| 6 | Augmented fourth/Diminished fifth |
| 7 | Perfect fifth |
| 8 | Minor sixth |
| 9 | Major sixth |
| 10 | Minor seventh |
| 11 | Major seventh |
| 12 | Perfect eight/Perfect octave |