Interval Practice 1
Added 2020-06-24 03:09:52 +0000 UTCNew here? Wondering where to start? Click here
This is a twisty exercise for learning the interval shapes in an octave starting on the E, A, D and G strings. It will make a little more sense after watching Music Theory for Guitar Lesson 3 • Intervals.
Other lessons in this series:
Check out the Lesson Archive for more Music Theory lessons.
This lesson is part of my Music Theory For Guitar series.
Have a question? Ask on the weekly live Q&A, called Office Hours. Also, check out Practice Thoughts if you need help figuring out how to practice.
Comments
Its good to know the theory behind why two notes sound good played together and others not so, Up until now I was ignorant. Thanks Scott.
Stephen Broadmeadow
2025-05-16 16:58:34 +0000 UTCThere is a little section of text near the bottom of this post (right below “This lesson is part of my Music Theory For Guitar series.”) The pdf is just a bit of text labelled “Interval Practice #1” with a paperclip next to it. Click that and it’ll download and open the pdf
Scott Paul Johnson
2025-03-13 15:03:37 +0000 UTCThank you Scott for such great quality lessons! 🥳
Jennifer Le
2025-03-13 10:35:24 +0000 UTCCan anyone please tell me where to find the pdf? Thank you 🙏🏾
Jennifer Le
2025-03-13 10:33:46 +0000 UTChi scott, when do we know we can move on to the next lesson?
Cesar Alvarado
2024-04-20 03:17:13 +0000 UTCAre you sure? He said that: 1h - minor second (half step) C - Db 2h - major second (Whole step) - C - D
Bardan Robert
2023-12-29 15:38:14 +0000 UTCIn the first interval lesson it's mentioned that a whole step ( C - D ) is a Major 2nd, why is it now called a m2 in the practice?
prodbymarvv
2023-10-25 07:55:57 +0000 UTCWell... may not, I think its actually: F, F, G, F, G#, F, A, G#
Terence Wehle
2023-09-26 01:19:38 +0000 UTCLike Peter Gunn by Henry Mancini :-) F, F, F#, F, G, F, G#, F
Terence Wehle
2023-09-26 01:11:56 +0000 UTCHi Is there a separate play along for this exercise like the previous two lessons ? When do I know I am ready to move on to the next lesson ? Harsh
harsh ghesani
2023-01-11 04:30:10 +0000 UTCHi Is there a play along for this exercise like the first two lessons ?
harsh ghesani
2023-01-11 04:27:44 +0000 UTCReally like the structure of your lessons. I find that there's a nice pace from learning the "language" to the actual application. So far this is the only place where i've stuck with theory for more than 2 weeks. Haha. Thanks for planning out these lessons SPJ! =)
Dhazrani Kusairi
2022-11-02 15:15:23 +0000 UTCI think I would love to practice with that, since it's kind of stretching a bit to seek the last section of the video (4:14'), play with it, and once you miss once or twice it's gone. Just clipping that one apart for practice. With it there is a cool functionality of going with the screen
Clement Kabiligi
2022-06-12 16:26:27 +0000 UTCThank You.. 😊
Sherlyn Paine
2022-05-24 20:04:38 +0000 UTCThese are the basic pieces needed to build chords, specifically major and minor thirds (M3 and m3) - it'll make sense when you get to the "Triads" lesson
Scott Paul Johnson
2022-05-24 20:03:13 +0000 UTCHow this connects for making chords? Do I need to memorize all of this M2 ,m3,m2 etc..?
Sherlyn Paine
2022-05-24 19:55:37 +0000 UTCEthan - this is one of those lessons where you have to learn the basic language before you can really practically apply it to musical situations. As you start diving into Triads (coming up) this info will really help you understand what is going on. When you get to CAGED Basics (which you can watch right after this series) you'll start learning how to navigate through all the CAGED Shapes.
Scott Paul Johnson
2022-02-25 14:34:05 +0000 UTCHi john - my video editor and I have figured out a way to do it live, in real time. I used to have to edit every single note though
Scott Paul Johnson
2022-02-25 14:31:31 +0000 UTCI don't understand the practical application of this lesson. Is it so we can pick out notes in a scale to match someone playing a chord? or help us negotiate vertically though CAGED shapes? Help us design phrases? Where can I use this?
Ethan B
2022-02-24 23:25:22 +0000 UTCdo you use a software that automatically labels what notes you're playing on the screen or you do you to edit in each note? thanks for the video :)
John
2022-01-22 00:34:48 +0000 UTCHey Whitney! It sounds like you might wanna start at the beginning. Check out this list: https://www.scottpauljohnson.com/scotts-recommended-lesson-plan That should help clear up the difference between an octave, an interval and an E Major Scale. I'll explain briefly here, too. An interval is a measurement between one note and another. If you start at the beginning of the series(Music Theory for Guitar 01 | Major Scales,) you'll learn about whole steps and half steps, which are the most basic musical measurements. A Major Scale takes those whole steps and half steps (the most basic intervals) and arranges them into this formula: WWHWWWH Again, you'll learn this very thoroughly if you start with Music Theory for Guitar 01 An Octave is a specific kind of interval. The name of a specific measurement. It happens to be the distance from the first note of a major scale to the last note of a major scale, which happens to be a distance of 8 notes! Thus the "oct" part of the octave. Hope that clears up a bit, BUT watch this series from the beginning and it will make a lot more sense.
Scott Paul Johnson
2021-08-12 03:16:44 +0000 UTCWhat is the difference between an "E string octave" and intervals in the key of E? Or E major scale? Or is that the same thing?
Whitney-Jocelyn Kouaho
2021-08-12 02:30:38 +0000 UTCActually no worries, I dont mind just playing along with the video on this one! No need to make unnecessary work for ya. Thanks!
Jeffrey B Grabo
2021-07-28 15:02:52 +0000 UTCThats a good question. For this one I was kind of thinking people would just play along with the section at the end of the video. Its just a drum beat, but I can add it to my to do list if people think it would be helpful to download some practice beats.
Scott Paul Johnson
2021-07-28 13:55:35 +0000 UTCCan i download the track you use for practice here?
Jeffrey B Grabo
2021-07-27 22:31:05 +0000 UTCHey Scott, just flagging here there’s a busted link in this lesson on the archive, had to scroll manually to find it. The second link is fine though!
Sam MacIntosh
2021-03-17 08:15:31 +0000 UTCI am having trouble with the practice website because it’s hard for me to identify them . Is there a trick to knowing it .. I don’t know if that made sense
Taco s
2020-12-07 04:24:55 +0000 UTCBefore I leave "Music Theory", is it possible that offer: Minor Scale Scratch Paper, so more insight on how Intervals are used or how they are connected with your sessions on Major and Minor Scales etc. Help me connect the dots. Through the years I've accumulated a lot of pieces of information. Now I must make sure I understand how to store in my head not only what is taught me but how to connect the building blocks. I am committed to slow my roll until i get all of this great info stored in my head, fingers, and ears so that I can smile and honestly know that I got it! Thank you.
Archiette Watts
2020-09-15 12:39:49 +0000 UTCSorry again.
Archiette Watts
2020-09-15 12:25:27 +0000 UTCSorry. I did not finish my comment. It would be helpful to have PDFs form:
Archiette Watts
2020-09-15 12:24:54 +0000 UTCPracticing always helps to remove the initial fear of accomplishing each scheduled practice. Your sessions are reviewed liked personal notes from a class. This is great. I'm encouraged not to be afraid of not accomplishing each skill that you introduce. Is it possible for you to complete worksheets
Archiette Watts
2020-09-15 12:22:53 +0000 UTCThank you, seem to be having issues with download of the pdf for the practice. @Scot, can you send me that if possible
Teddy Haricharan
2020-08-16 20:02:16 +0000 UTCas someone who could never get a good practice routine going, i'm really appreciating all these little exercises. do you think you could post that practice track along with the pdf here? thanks!
Daniel Allen
2020-06-30 03:11:04 +0000 UTCAwesome Armel. Thanks for being here and I'll keep doing the soloing lessons. AND I'm tinkering with the pace because - yeah - it was pretty intense for me for a while
Scott Paul Johnson
2020-06-30 01:48:10 +0000 UTCGreat practice video. As someone who took on guitar a year ago, your lessons certainly created a good and coherent theoretical structure to learn. I look forward to more soloing lessons ( I IV V etc.) as well as arpeggios in the near future. The fact that the lesson pace isn't crazy is also helpful for morale. Thanks.
Armel Chiza
2020-06-27 23:29:26 +0000 UTC
