I hope you are doing okay with everything that is going on now. These are crazy times, but we have to make the best of it. We have to help each other out while keeping a safe distance, be considerate of others, smile to people to relieve a bit of their burden, but with all that don’t forget yourself along the way. Being kind to yourself too. Have a bit of fun. Try to enjoy the present moment.

For those of you who stay at home, you might have some more time on your hands now to enjoy the guitar, develop a nice practice routine, and make some good progress. Well, here’s a great guitar workout for you…

Practicing melodic intervals really developed my skills to solo and improvise over major chord progressions. Just by going through the scale intervals on a regular basis you are training the muscle memory for your fingers and acquiring the vocabulary for your creative mind to help you shape your musical brain and come up with melodic ideas. It’s an exercise that is not to be underestimated.

In this lesson we are going to learn “melodic intervals in 3rds” following the major scale. We’ll practice these 3rd intervals over 5 different scale shapes/positions across the neck, so we’ve got a great workout for you! Don’t worry we’ll take it step by step.

Make sure you know the major scale in 5 shapes/positions before you start this lesson, but on the other hand you can also skip that for now if you just became excited to dive into this lesson. You can always come back to that later. I can imagine you want to try at least the first exercise to know what we’re talking about here. I totally understand.

Another upside is that the exercises will train your ear to recognize 3rd intervals. This will improve your aural skills, which is a important part of becoming an accomplished musician (Try to sing along the notes as you play the exercises). The practice of playing the intervals will also increase your dexterity. A win-win situation in many ways.

Music Theory 3rd Intervals

If you don’t like music theory you can skip this part, but you might pick up a thing or two that will eventually make you an awesome guitar player. I’ll keep it short this time.

An interval is the difference in pitch between two sounds. There are harmonic intervals and melodic intervals. Harmonic intervals are played simultaneously (two notes played together at the same time) and melodic intervals are played in sequence, one after the other. In this lesson we play melodic intervals.

For example we use the G major scale in 5 different shapes/positions. The G major scale consists of the notes : G A B C D E F# G. If you play a scale in thirds it means each note in the scale is followed by the third note in that scale. The first note G follows up by the third note B, then you play the second note of the scale A which follows up by a C and so on. So you get the notes: G-B, A-C, B-D, C-E, D-F#, E-G, G-B. These are a combination of major thirds and minor thirds, but before I get totally sidetracked I’ll go into that in another lesson. Promise! Now let’s focus on the practice.

How to Practice the Major Scale in 3rds

We all have different skill levels (beginner, intermediate, advanced) so I suggest you start with practicing the first shape / position 1. Practice it slowly. Make sure all the notes sound clean and clear. Memorize each exercise thoroughly and learn the scale ascending and descending.

Move on to the next shape when you can play the first shape comfortably and confidently off the top of your head. If you’re a beginner just learn the first shape/position 1. If you’re an intermediate or advanced guitar player you can learn all shapes, but take your time with it. Let it sink in. Become one with it. Enough said…

Enjoy the ride!

Major scale 3rd intervals – Shape / Position 1

Major scale 3rd intervals – Shape / Position 2

Major scale 3rd intervals – Shape / Position 3

Major scale 3rd intervals – Shape/Position 4

Major scale 3rd intervals – Shape / Position 5

Intervals are used in all styles of guitar music from pop, blues, country to jazz and classical music.

Learning to play and understand intervals are a great value to your guitar playing. It will help you to understand chords, scales and add beautiful melodic and harmonic ideas to your improvisation.

Today I’ll start with the interval of a third. It’s probably the most often used interval in pop music, but also widely used in all other styles.

In music theory, an interval is the distance in pitch between any two notes. When you play these two notes simultaneously they are called harmonic intervals. When you play the notes separately one after the other they are called melodic intervals.

Here are two ways to determine intervals:

1 – Finding intervals by counting the number of semitones between the two notes.
2 – Finding intervals within a scale. (diatonic intervals)

EXAMPLE 1:

Here are all intervals from C within one octave:

Note: 1/2 step = 1 fret, 1 step = 2 frets.

0 steps = Unison (from C to C)               1/2 step = Minor second (from C to C#)
1 step = Major second (from C to D)       1+1/2 steps = Minor third (from C to D#)
2 steps = Major third (C to E)                 2+1/2 steps = Perfect fourth (C to F)
3 steps = Augmented fourth (C to F#)     3+1/2 steps = Perfect fifth (C to G)
4 steps = Minor sixth (C to G#)               4+1/2 steps = Major sixth (C to A)
5 steps = Minor seventh (C to A#)           5+1/2 steps = Major seventh (C to B)
6 steps = Octave (C to C)

EXAMPLE 2:

C major scale: C D E F G A B C

Interval of a 2nd: From C to D, D to E, E to F, F to G, G to A, A to B and B to C

Interval of a 3rd: From C to E, D to F, E to G, F to A, G to B, A to C and B to D

Interval of a 4th: From C to F, D to G, E to A, F to B, G to C, A to D and B to E

Interval of a 5th: From C to G, D to A, E to B, F to C, G to D, A to E and B to F

Interval of a 6th: From C to A, D to B, E to C, F to D, G to E, A to F and B to G

Interval of a 7th: From C to B, D to C, E to D, F to E, G to F, A to G and B to A

In the examples below we first see the C major scale (2 octaves): C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C.

Then we start playing the 3rd intervals within the C major scale and next we’ll be moving them up the neck. The red notes indicate the root notes. All the intervals below are played in the key of C, that means every root notes is a C note.

If you want to play the intervals in a different key like the key of D for example, just move up all the notes a whole step. Your red root note now becomes a D note. If you want to play in the key of E move up 2 whole steps. Play in the key of A? Move all the notes down a 1+1/2 step.

Take your time to learn and memorize the intervals. See if you can make some nice melody.

Enjoy the experience!

C MAJOR SCALE

DIATONIC 3RDS IN THE KEY OF C

3RDS ON THE HIGH E & B STRINGS (MELODIC)

3RDS ON THE HIGH E & B STRINGS (HARMONIC)

3RDS ON THE B & G STRINGS (MELODIC)

3RDS ON THE B & G STRINGS (HARMONIC)

3RDS ON THE G & D STRINGS

3RDS ON THE G & D STRINGS (HARMONIC)

3RDS ON THE D & A STRINGS (MELODIC)

3RDS ON THE D & A STRINGS (HARMONIC)

3RDS ON THE A & LOW E STRINGS (MELODIC)

3RDS ON THE A & LOW E STRINGS (HARMONIC)

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If you’re new to scale sequences I suggest you check out “6 Basic Major Scale Sequences / Melodic Patterns” first. That’s where I explain why and how you should practice scale sequences.

This is Part II of the previous post and if you got the basic scale sequences under your belt you’re pretty much up for this challenge.

I recommend you play these sequenses along with a metronome: “www.metronomeonline.com” It’s the best way to make progress in accuracy and speed. Start out really slow and gradually build up your speed. Only go faster when you can play each note clear and correctly.

The sequences are for the intermediate and advanced. They are tricky but incredibly fun to play.

Enjoy and improve!

SEQUENCE #1 ascending
e:-----------------|-------------------|
B:-----------------|-------------------|
G:-----------------|-------------------|
D:---------------2-|-------4-----2-5---|
A:-----2-5---2-3---|-2-3-5---3-5-------|
E:-3-5-----5-------|-------------------|
 

e:-----------------|-------------------|
B:-----------------|---------------3---|
G:-------2-------4-|-----2-5---2-4-----|
D:---2-4---2-4-5---|-4-5-----5---------|
A:-5---------------|-------------------|
E:-----------------|-------------------|
 
e:---------------2-|-------3-----2-5-3-|
B:-------5-----3---|---3-5---3-5-------|
G:-2-4-5---4-5-----|-5-----------------|
D:-----------------|-------------------|
A:-----------------|-------------------|
E:-----------------|-------------------|
 
descending
e:-3-2-----2-------|-------------------|
B:-----5-----5-3---|-5-3-----3---------|
G:-------5-------4-|-----5-2---5-4-----|
D:-----------------|---------------5---|
A:-----------------|-------------------|
E:-----------------|-------------------|
 
e:-----------------|-------------------|
B:-----------------|-------------------|
G:-5-4-2---4-2-----|-2-----------------|
D:-------4-----5-2-|---5-4---5-4-2-----|
A:-----------------|-------5-------3---|
E:-----------------|-------------------|
 
e:-----------------|-------------------|
B:-----------------|-------------------|
G:-----------------|-------------------|
D:-4-2-----2-------|-------------------|
A:-----5-2---5-3---|-5-3-2---3-2-------|
E:---------------5-|-------3-----5-2-3-|
 
SEQUENCE #2 ascending
e:-----------------|-------------------|
B:-----------------|-------------------|
G:-----------------|---------------2---|
D:-------2-------4-|-------5-----2-----|
A:-----2-----2-3---|-2-3-5---3-5-------|
E:-3-5-----5-------|-------------------|
 
e:-----------------|-------------------|
B:-----------------|-------3-------5---|
G:-------4-------5-|-----2-----2-4-----|
D:---2-4---2-4-5---|-4-5-----5---------|
A:-5---------------|-------------------|
E:-----------------|-------------------|
 
e:-------2-------3-|-------5-3---------|
B:-------------3---|---3-5-------------|
G:-2-4-5---4-5-----|-5-----------------|
D:-----------------|-------------------|
A:-----------------|-------------------|
E:-----------------|-------------------|
 
descending
e:-3-2-----2-------|-------------------|
B:-----5-----5-3---|-5-3-----3---------|
G:-------4-------2-|-----5-----5-4-----|
D:-----------------|-------5-------4---|
A:-----------------|-------------------|
E:-----------------|-------------------|
 
e:-----------------|-------------------|
B:-----------------|-------------------|
G:-5-4-2---4-2-----|-2-----------------|
D:-------2-----5---|---5-4---5-4-2-----|
A:---------------5-|-------3-------2---|
E:-----------------|-------------------|
 
e:-----------------|-------------------|
B:-----------------|-------------------|
G:-----------------|-------------------|
D:-4-2-----2-------|-------------------|
A:-----5-----5-3---|-5-3-2---3-2-------|
E:-------5-------3-|-------2-----5-0-3-|
 
SEQUENCE #3 ascending
e:-----------------|------------------|---------------------|
B:-----------------|------------------|---------3-----------|
G:-----------------|-2--------4-2-----|-5-4-2-----5-4-------|
D:-4-2-----5-4-2---|---5-4--------5---|---------------2-----|
A:-----5-----------|-------2--------3-|-------5-------------|
E:-------3-------5-|------------------|---------------------|
 
e:----------2-------|-3-2------5-3-2---3--------------------|
B:-5-3--------5-3---|-----5---------------------------------|
G:-----5------------|-------2--------4----------------------|
D:-------4--------5-|---------------------------------------|
A:------------------|---------------------------------------|
E:------------------|---------------------------------------|
 
descending
e:-------3--------2--|-------------------|------------------|
B:-------------------|-------5--------3--|------------------|
G:-2-4-5------2-4----|-----2-------------|-------5--------4-|
D:----------5--------|-4-5------2-4-5----|---2-4--------2---|
A:-------------------|-------------------|-5--------3-5-----|
E:-------------------|-------------------|------------------|
 
e:-------------------|--------------------------------------|
B:-------------------|--------------------------------------|
G:-------2-----------|--------------------------------------|
D:----------------5--|-------4-------2----------------------|
A:-2-3-5------2-3----|-----2--------------------------------|
E:----------5--------|-3-5-----2-3-5---3--------------------|
 
SEQUENCE #4 ascending
e:-----------------|-------------------|
B:-----------------|-------------------|
G:-----------------|---------------2---|
D:-------2-------4-|-------5-2---------|
A:-2-------3-2-----|-5-3-2-----5-3-----|
E:---5-3-------5---|-------------------|
 
SEQUENCE #4 ascending
e:-----------------|-------------------|
B:-----------------|-------3-------5---|
G:-------4-------5-|-2-------4-2-------|
D:-4-2-----5-4-2---|---5-4-------5-----|
A:-----5-----------|-------------------|
E:-----------------|-------------------|
 
e:-------2-------3-|-------5-2-----7-3-|
B:---------3-------|-5-3-------5-3-----|
G:-5-4-2-----5-4---|-----5-------------|
D:-----------------|-------------------|
A:-----------------|-------------------|
E:-----------------|-------------------|
 
descending
e:---2-3-------2---|-------------------|
B:-5-------3-5-----|---3-5-------3-----|
G:-------4-------2-|-5-------4-5-------|
D:-----------------|-------5-------4---|
A:-----------------|-------------------|
E:-----------------|-------------------|
 
e:-----------------|-------------------|
B:-----------------|-------------------|
G:-2-4-5-----2-4---|-----2-------------|
D:-------2-5-------|-4-5-----2-4-5-----|
A:---------------5-|-------3-------2---|
E:-----------------|-------------------|
 
e:-----------------|-------------------|
B:-----------------|-------------------|
G:-----------------|-------------------|
D:---2-4-------2---|-------------------|
A:-5-------3-5-----|-2-3-5-----2-3-----|
E:-------5-------3-|-------2-5-----0-3-|
 
SEQUENCE #5 ascending (triplets)
e:-------------------------|-------------------------|
B:-------------------------|-------------------------|
G:-------------------------|-----------------------2-|
D:-----------2---------2-4-|-------2-4-5-----2-4-5---|
A:-----2-3-5-----2-3-5-----|-2-3-5-------3-5---------|
E:-3-5---------5-----------|-------------------------|
 
e:-------------------------|-------------------------|
B:-------------------------|-----------3---------3-5-|
G:---------2-4-------2-4-5-|-----2-4-5-----2-4-5-----|
D:---2-4-5-----2-4-5-------|-4-5---------5-----------|
A:-5-----------------------|-------------------------|
E:-------------------------|-------------------------|
 
e:-----------2---------2-3---------------------------|
B:-------3-5-------3-5-------------------------------|
G:-2-4-5-------4-5-----------------------------------|
D:---------------------------------------------------|
A:---------------------------------------------------|
E:---------------------------------------------------|
 
descending
e:-3-2---------2-----------|-------------------------|
B:-----5-3-------5-3-------|-5-3---------3-----------|
G:---------5-4-------5-4-2-|-----5-4-2-----5-4-2-----|
D:-------------------------|-----------5---------5-4-|
A:-------------------------|-------------------------|
E:-------------------------|-------------------------|
 
e:-------------------------|-------------------------|
B:-------------------------|-------------------------|
G:-5-4-2-------4-2---------|-2-----------------------|
D:-------5-4-2-----5-4-2---|---5-4-2-----5-4-2-------|
A:-----------------------5-|---------5-3-------5-3-2-|
E:-------------------------|-------------------------|
 
e:---------------------------------------------------|
B:---------------------------------------------------|
G:---------------------------------------------------|
D:-4-2---------2-------------------------------------|
A:-----5-3-2-----5-3-2-------------------------------|
E:-----------5---------5-3---------------------------|
 
SEQUENCE #6 ascending (triplets)
e:-------------------------|-------------------------|
B:-------------------------|-------------------------|
G:-------------------------|-------------------------|
D:-------------2---------2-|-4---------4-5-2-----2-5-|
A:-5-2-----2-5---3-2---3---|---5-3-2-5-------5-3-----|
E:-----5-3-----------5-----|-------------------------|
 
e:-------------------------|-------------------------|
B:-------------------------|-------------3---------3-|
G:-2---------2-4---------4-|-5-2-----2-5---4-2---4---|
D:---4-2---4-----5-4-2-5---|-----5-4-----------5-----|
A:-------5-----------------|-------------------------|
E:-------------------------|-------------------------|
 
e:-------------2---------2--|-3---------3-5-2-----2-5-3-|
B:-5---------5---3-----3----|---5-3---5-------5-3-------|
G:---5-4-2-5-------5-4------|-------5-------------------|
D:--------------------------|---------------------------|
A:--------------------------|---------------------------|
E:--------------------------|---------------------------|
 
descending
e:-----2-3-----------2-----|----------------------------|
B:---5-----5-----3-5---3---|-----3-5-----------3--------|
G:-5---------5-4---------4-|-2-5-----5-2---4-5---4------|
D:-------------------------|-------------5---------5----|
A:-------------------------|----------------------------|
E:-------------------------|----------------------------|
 
e:-------------------------|----------------------------|
B:-------------------------|----------------------------|
G:---2-4-5-2-------2-4-----|-------2---------4-5--------|
D:-4---------4-2-5-----5-2-|---4-5---4-----2-----2------|
A:-------------------------|-5---------5-3---------3----|
E:-------------------------|----------------------------|
 
e:-------------------------|----------------------------|
B:-------------------------|----------------------------|
G:-------------------------|----------------------------|
D:-----2-4-----------2-----|----------------------------|
A:-2-5-----5-2---3-5---3---|---2-3-5-2-------2-3--------|
E:-------------5---------5-|-3---------3-2-5-----5-2-3--|
 
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Thanks a lot!
Klaus Crow