Hey Friend,

Alright, so seven note names…

Yesterday, I hinted that we only need to know the names for seven of the twelve possible notes used in music today (at least Western music). Those notes are A, B, C, D, E, F and G.

But we have twelve frets to fill on the guitar neck, so it stands to reason that there have to be some spaces between some of these notes.

The space between two notes is known as an interval. The notes can be right next to each other, or they could be separated by many frets. 

The smallest interval would be moving a note one fret. The pitch change is known as either a semitone or half-step.

An example would be to play the lowest sounding note - that’s the open E note on the sixth string (the fat one) - and then place your index finger on the fingerboard at the first fret. This is an F note.

There are no frets separating these two notes E and F, and the interval is a half-step.

If two notes are separated by a fret, they are actually two half-steps apart. You have a space on the fingerboard between the two pitches. Two half-steps combined is known as a… yep, you guessed it, a whole step. You might also see a whole step called a tone.

For example, the notes A and B are a whole step apart. On the fifth string, the open note is A. If you place a finger at the second fret, this a B note.

Each interval in a scale has another name, but we won’t go into that until we talk about musical keys.

For now, just know that these named notes are separated by either a half-step or a whole step. 

Move your finger up or down the guitar neck:

So once you remember what the spacing is between each note, you will always be able to figure out where other notes are on the guitar neck. You might have to hunt a little for each one, but they will always work out.

That’s because there is a pattern to the intervals between the notes. The pattern will never let you down, and once you remember it, you will always know which notes will work for you in a song.

This pattern is a primary building block not only for melodies, but for developing your guitar solos, harmonies and building out chords.

I don’t want to hype it, but I’d say tomorrow’s lesson could be the most important thing I can teach you. Ever.

Okay, I DO want to hype it - it’s that important!

Peace~

Dave