Introduction to Guitar Intervals

An interval is the distance between two notes on the guitar.  For example, when visualizing the high E string on the guitar fretboard you have the following 12 notes:

0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
E	F	F♯	G	A♭	A	B♭	B	C	C♯	D	E♭	E
B	C	C♯	D	E♭	E	F	F♯	G	A♭	A	B♭	B
G	A♭	A	B♭	B	C	C♯	D	E♭	E	F	F♯	G
D	E♭	E	F	F♯	G	A♭	A	B♭	B	C	C♯	D
A	B♭	B	C	C♯	D	E♭	E	F	F♯	G	A♭	A
E	F	F♯	G	A♭	A	B♭	B	C	C♯	D	E♭	E

Once you arrive on the 13th fret of the high E string, all of these notes repeat themselves in a higher octave. Intervals are important because you can use them to build chords (major, minor, and lots of others!).

Below is a quick reference guide for the various intervals starting from a chosen note on the fretboard:

Starting note = root
1 fret up = minor second (playing the root + the minor second sounds like Jaws)
2 frets up = major second (happy sound)
3 frets up = minor third (sad sound)
4 frets up  = major third
5 frets up = perfect forth (playing the root + the perfect forth sounds like the beginning to "Here Comes The Bride")
6 frets up = tritone
7 steps up = perfect fifth (playing the root + the perfect fifth sounds like the beginning of Star Wars)
8 steps up = minor 6th
9 steps up = major 6th
10 steps up = minor 7th
11 steps up = major 7th
12 steps up = octave

With this information, you can learn to build guitar chords all over the fretboard! 

For example, below are two popular formulas:
Major chord formula = root, major third and a perfect fifth (E Major = E G#/Ab B)
Minor chord formula = root, minor third and a perfect fifth (E Minor = E G B)

This is a little more advanced information for a beginning guitarist. However, I wanted to share it with you, especially if you are wondering how chords can be formed on the fretboard.

Do you use guitar intervals? What formulas do you use to construct chords? Please share your feedback with us below!