Great question!

No one seems to want to take a stab at answering
this one, so I think I'll have a go at it for you.
= )

The Merriam/Webster Dictionary defines "Interval"
(pertaining to us musicians) as:
Difference in pitch between tones.

Simply put?
An interval is the distance between two notes.
I will try to explain this as it applies to a root
note on your fretboard instead of the music
notation staff.

One fret space between notes on your Bass neck is
called a "half step" or a "Minor Second" interval.

This occurs naturally between both E and F, and B
and C in western music theory. So, one half step
sharp (higher) from E will always be F and like
wise one half step flat (lower) from F will always
be E. This similar logic applies to the "natural
half step" interval occurring between B and C.

A two fret span between two notes is called a
"whole step" interval or a "Major Second"
interval, so named because this is the distance
between the root note (l) and the second note (ll)
in the major scale. Easiest reached by fretting
the root with your first finger and fretting the
"Major Second" with your third finger on the same
string two frets sharp.

A three fret span between two notes is called a
"Minor Third" interval, so named because this is
the distance between the root note (l) and the
third note (lll) in the minor scale. This interval
can be played on the same string or it can be
easily reached by fretting the root with your
third finger and fretting the "Minor Third" with
your first finger on the next string down (toward
the floor) and two frets flat.

A four fret span between two notes is called a
"Major Third" interval, so named because this is
the distance between the root note (l) and the
third note (lll) in the major scale. This interval
can be played on the same string or it can be
easiest reached by fretting the root with your
second finger and fretting the "Major Third" with
your first finger on the next string down (toward
the floor) and one fret flat.

A five fret span between two notes is called a
"Perfect Fourth" interval, so named because this
is the distance between the root note (l) and the
forth note (lV) in both the major AND the minor
scale. This interval can be easiest reached by
fretting the root with your first finger and then
fretting the "Perfect Fourth" with your first
finger on the next string down (toward the floor)
on the same fret.

A six fret span between two notes is called a
"Flat Five" interval, so named because this is the
distance between the root note (l) and the
legendary evil sounding note which occurs one half
step flat of the "Perfect Fifth" (V). (Keep
reading...) This interval can be easiest reached
by fretting the root with your first finger and
then fretting the "Flat Five" with your second
finger on the next string down (toward the floor)
and one fret sharp. Note that this is the only
interval in Western Music that does not occur in
either the Major or Minor scale!

A seven fret span between two notes is called a
"Perfect Fifth" interval, so named because this is
the distance between the root note (l) and the
fifth note (V) in both the major AND the minor
scale. This interval can be easiest reached by
fretting the root with your first finger and then
fretting the "Perfect Fifth" with your third
finger on the next string down (toward the floor)
and two frets sharp.

An eight fret span between two notes is called a
"Minor Sixth" interval, so named because this is
the distance between the root note (l) and the
sixth note (Vl) in the minor scale. This interval
can be easiest reached by fretting the root with
your first finger and then fretting the "Minor
Sixth" with your third or fourth finger on the
next string down (toward the floor) and three
frets sharp.

A nine fret span between two notes is called a
"Major Sixth" interval, so named because this is
the distance between the root note (l) and the
sixth note (Vl) in the major scale. This interval
can be easiest reached by fretting the root with
your second finger and then fretting the "Major
Sixth" with your first finger two strings down
(toward the floor) and one fret flat.

A ten fret span between two notes is called a
"Minor Seventh" interval, so named because this is
the distance between the root note (l) and the
seventh note (Vll) in the minor scale. This
interval can be easiest reached by fretting the
root with your first finger and then fretting the
"Minor Seventh" with your second or third finger
two strings down (toward the floor) on the same
fret.

An eleven fret span between two notes is called a
"Major Seventh" interval, so named because this is
the distance between the root note (l) and the
seventh note (Vll) in the major scale. This
interval can be easiest reached by fretting the
root with your first finger and then fretting the
"Major Seventh" with your third finger two strings
down (toward the floor) and one fret sharp.

The twelve fret span is called the "Octave" in
both the Major and Minor Scale. This interval can
be easiest reached by fretting the root with your
first finger and then fretting the "Octave" with
your third or fourth finger two strings down
(toward the floor) and two frets sharp.

WOW!
= )

All fingerings are merely suggestion and you
should use what works best for you. The important
thing is to recognize each intervals musical
relationship to the root note. Some will sound
decidedly "happy" or "Major" while others should
sound more "serious" or "Minor" to your ear when
played after a root. Also notice the differing
amount of "tension" provided by each interval as
it relates to the root. Some will practically cry
out to be resolved to another note when played
after a root! This is "musical tension and
release". The "Flat Five" will clearly demonstrate
both these points to you

I hope this helps answer your question. Please let
me know!

Aloha for now-
Gonzo
GonzoBass.com

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Gonzo, a labor of love!

Yo Gonzo,
I just LOVE your answer to this question!!! :^D
Clifton

Clifton...what the heck is that pink thing and what is it doing ? Hahahhaha

Yo Lesa,
LOL!! It my Love for you!! See how it moves toward YOU!! Never stopping, until it reaches YOU!! He, he! :^D
Clifton

Really? It looks like a dog rubbing it's butt when it has worms....hahhaa
I just sent you an email..

Yo Lesa,
I send you one as well!! XOXOX

Thank you...:o)

And here it is in a table. As some people may have noticed, I love tables:

Distance Interval     Interval name    A.K.A.

---------------------------------------------------------

0        1            unison

1                     diminished 2nd   flat 2nd, b2, b9

2        2            2nd              9th, major 2nd      

3                     minor 3rd        flat 3rd, b3, b10

4        3            major 3rd        maj 10th,b4

5        4            perfect 4th      11th

6                     diminished 5th   aug 4th, #4, b5, #11

7        5            perfect 5th      

8                     augmented 5th    b6, #5

9        6            major 6th        bb7, dim7

11                    dominant 7th     min7, b7

12       7            major 7th        

13       8            octave           

The first column, distance, is in semitones or frets. The second column, shows the degrees of the major scale. The third column shows formal names, and the fourth, various other names for the interval.

Very nicely put Helgi!!!

Ummm, yeah...
What he said!
= )

Thanks Clifton.
Did I perhaps over-explain there a bit?
I hope not...
I'd like to think of it as being thorough,
but Helgi got the diminished and augmented terms
in there.
Which I missed completely!!!
= )

Way to go!!!

Aloha for now-
Gonzo
GonzoBass.com

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