A scale degree is the name of a particular note of a scale in relation to the tonic (root note). We will use C major scale for demonstration.
|
C major scale note |
Degree Number |
Degree Name |
|
C |
1 – unison |
Tonic |
|
D |
2 – second |
Supertonic |
|
E |
3 - third |
Mediant |
|
F |
4 – fourth |
Subdominant |
|
G |
5 – fifth |
Dominant |
|
A |
6 - sixth |
Submediant |
|
B |
7 – seventh |
Leading tone |
|
C |
8 – octave |
Tonic |
Quite simple, uh? What you should do now is try to play all of those over a C note. Memorize what melodic quality each of those have. Which ones are consonant or melodic, and which ones are dissonant. You'll do that by playing them along with Tonic.
Also, make sure you work on them each day, until you have them under your skin.
Now, about intervals...
A music interval describes the relationship between the pitches of two notes. The name of any interval is further qualified using the terms perfect, major, minor, augmented and diminished.
|
Number of semitones |
Name |
Enharmonic notes |
|
0 |
Perfect unison (P1) |
Diminished second (dim2) |
|
1 |
Minor second (m2) |
Augmented unison (aug1) |
|
2 |
Major second (M2) |
Diminished third (dim3) |
|
3 |
Minor third (m3) |
Augmented second (aug2) |
|
4 |
Major third (M3) |
Diminished fourth (dim4) |
|
5 |
Perfect fourth (P4) |
Augmented third (aug3) |
|
6 |
Tritone (TT) |
Diminished fifth (dim5) Augmented fourth (aug4) |
|
7 |
Perfect fifth (P5) |
Diminished sixth (dim6) |
|
8 |
Minor sixth (m6) |
Augmented fifth (aug5) |
|
9 |
Major sixth (M6) |
Diminished seventh (dim7) |
|
10 |
Minor seventh (m7) |
Augmented sixth (aug6) |
|
11 |
Major seventh (M7) |
Diminished octave (dim8) |
|
12 |
Perfect octave (P8) |
Augmented seventh (aug7) |
What does this chart say to you? It says that if you play G note over C note, you played a perfect fifth, or diminished sixth, depending on the key you're in. If you play F# note over A note, you played minor sixth or augmented fifth. If you play E note, over B note, you played perfect fourth or augmented third. And so on...
The best way to memorize the intervals is through practice and visualization. Try to imagine where is that interval on your guitar, before you play it.
Suppose you want to play thirds to whole C major scale, in key of C major, meaning, you have to use notes of C major scale. It would look like this:
|
C major scale |
It's thirds |
|
C |
E (M3) |
|
D |
F (m3) |
|
E |
G (m3) |
|
F |
A (M3) |
|
G |
B (M3) |
|
A |
C (m3) |
|
B |
D (m3) |
If you'd want to play it's fourths, in the key of C major, it would look like this:
|
C major scale |
It's fourths |
|
C |
F (P4) |
|
D |
G (P4) |
|
E |
A (P4) |
|
F |
B (aug4) |
|
G |
C (P4) |
|
A |
D (P4) |
|
B |
E (P4) |
This is called harmonization. By adding more than 2 intervals, you get chords.
Now, why are intervals so important?
Well, let me answer with a question. Have you ever wondered why someone knows which note to play over which chord to get the desired effect?
Either it's because of experience, or because of amazing aural skills, or because of knowing and understanding intervals. I'm sure I don't have to explain that it's the best to help yourself with use of all those 3 things, right?
So, when you play a note over a chord, you have to know which interval that note is in the scale you're in right now. Try that out, and once you do that, write out everything you can about that interval. Is it melodic, happy, sad, creepy... whatever. And also make sure you remember on which interval in each of scales you use you can begin and end. Basically, explore the options you have and make notes. Record the things you work on. Create as much exercises as possible. The more you give in, the more you'll get out!
