Musical Intervals

Intervals

On the visual guitar, when displaying interval numbers intstead of notes, a plus sign + represents going up one semitone, while a negative sign - represents going down one semitone. The interval numbers are based on the major scale. The major scale is counted 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. For instance, a C major scale is: 1=C, 2=D, 3=E, 4=F, 5=G, 6=A, 7=B, and 8=C. When you are reach 8, this is one octave higher than 1. So if you keep counting the next octave, you get 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 which are the same notes as before but one octave higher. This means 9 is the same as the 2, 11 is the same as the 4, and 13 is the same as the 6. You will see 9, 11 and 13 chord/arpeggios.

Chords and Arpeggios are basically the same. Chords are created from arpeggio notes but played together and strummed. Arpeggios are played like scales one note at a time.

Intervals help in the study of scales and modes. Start with the major scale and for example if you alter one of the notes, you could have 1 2 3 4 5 6 7b 8, which is a mixolydian scale. The 7th note of the major scale is made flat. On the visual guitar this may be represented by -7 which is the same as 7b (flat). So a C mixolydian scale would be 1=C, 2=D, 3=E, 4=F, 5=G, 6=A, 7b=Bb, 8=C.

A major chord/arpeggio is created by 1 3 5. That is the 1st, 3rd and 5th note of the major scale. For a C Major Arpeggio, this would be 1=C, 3=E and 5=G. Select an arpeggio, then change the note display to interval on the Visual Guitar menu to view. All the chord/arpeggio numbers are based on the major scale, no matter what key you are in. Start with the major scale of the selected key, then use the arpeggio and interval display to see how they line up.