A question about scales and intervals

[Neel]

I have been doing some reading, research, and plenty of experimentation, and I have a few questions about intervals on a bass.

When somebody refers to, lets say, a "third", does that mean that it is the third note in that scale? So a major third would be the third note played in the major scale (go up to frets for the second, then up a string and one below the root to get to this spot)?

It is somewhat hard to find sites that teach this sort of thing, and by reading various articles on wikipedia, practicing scales, and that sort of thing, this is the conclusion I have come to.

If the above is true, would this also mean that there is no such thing as a minor or major fifth? When I am practicing my scales, the 5th note of the scale seems to fall on the same place with either.

Bear with me if I sound like an idiot here, there is still a lot that I don't know.

[lowphatbass]

Originally Posted by Neel

I have been doing some reading, research, and plenty of experimentation, and I have a few questions about intervals on a bass.

When somebody refers to, lets say, a "third", does that mean that it is the third note in that scale? So a major third would be the third note played in the major scale (go up to frets for the second, then up a string and one below the root to get to this spot)?

It is somewhat hard to find sites that teach this sort of thing, and by reading various articles on wikipedia, practicing scales, and that sort of thing, this is the conclusion I have come to.

If the above is true, would this also mean that there is no such thing as a minor or major fifth? When I am practicing my scales, the 5th note of the scale seems to fall on the same place with either.

Bear with me if I sound like an idiot here, there is still a lot that I don't know.

Yes, all of the above is correct. Fifths and Fourths are referred to as "Perfect Fifth" or "Perfect Fourth" and are not Major or minor, they can be Diminished or Augmented, sometimes referred to as "Flat Fifth" or "Sharp 11"(same as a sharp 4th). This terminology varies greatly depending on many things. Classical theory is fairly standardized, Jazz theory is not agreed upon and highly debated by educators.

[fynnpopel]

There are scales that have fifths other than perfect fifth. Locrian for example has a diminished fifth.

[BassChuck]

Originally Posted by Neel

When somebody refers to, lets say, a "third", does that mean that it is the third note in that scale? So a major third would be the third note played in the major scale (go up to frets for the second, then up a string and one below the root to get to this spot)?

Yes

Originally Posted by Neel

If the above is true, would this also mean that there is no such thing as a minor or major fifth? When I am practicing my scales, the 5th note of the scale seems to fall on the same place with either.

True again. Traditionally the Octave, Fourth and Fifth are called "perfect" when the interval between the first note of a major or minor scale and the fourth, fifth.

When you take a major 3rd and move the notes closer together by one half step (one fret) then it is called a minor third.

Perfect Fourths, Fifths and octaves moved closer by a half step are called 'diminished'. Perfect Fourths, Fifths and Octave moved further apart by a half step are called 'augmented'.

This is the basic stuff. After this is gets a bit more complex but mostly because the intervals take their names based on what they look like on the written page rather than what they sound like. For instance. A major 3rd moved further apart by a half step looks, sounds and plays like a Perfect fourth, but it might be called an augmented 3rd if it is written that way on the page. (I told you it was a bit more complex) As an example the distance between a C and E is a major 3rd. If you increase this interval by a half step, it will sound like the distance between C and F.... however, for reasons that are Theoretical (remember the subject is called Theory) it would be written as C to E#.... and that would be called an augmented 3rd, because the distance between the notes is still a third... on the written page.

As you get further into Theory you'll find things that can be somewhat counter-intuitive. Don't get fussy about them, there are reasons they exist in that form... but the reasons rarely impact knowledge that you need to play an instrument. A good basic knowledge of scales and chords is a great help to playing.... further study is great for analizing music from different eras, and for composing music in different styles.

Good luck, its a great journey that usually takes a lifetime. And its a life well spent.

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

An interval is an acoustic distance between two pitches, measured in semitones. Although all of them can be named in different ways, here's the "official" list of intervals up to an octave:

Perfect unison: 0 semitones.
Minor second: 1 semitone.
Major second: 2 semitones.
Minor third: 3 semitones.
Major third: 4 semitones.
Perfect fourth: 5 semitones.
Augmented fourth: 6 semitones (a.k.a. "tritone").
Diminished fifth: 6 semitones (same as above).
Perfect fifth: 7 semitones.
Minor sixth: 8 semitones.
Major sixth: 9 semitones.
Minor seventh: 10 semitones.
Major seventh: 11 semitones.
Perfect octave: 12 semitones.

Seconds, thirds, sixths and sevenths have a rich harmonic quality that allow to differentiate them in modes like "major" or "minor", mostly associated with "happiness" and "sadness", although it depends on the context. The unison, fourth, fifth and octave don't have that quality. They're simply "perfect", so that's why they aren't "major" or "minor". They just can be "augmented" or "diminished" when altered.

[BillMason]

Originally Posted by Neel

I have been doing some reading, research, and plenty of experimentation, and I have a few questions about intervals on a bass.

When somebody refers to, lets say, a "third", does that mean that it is the third note in that scale? So a major third would be the third note played in the major scale (go up to frets for the second, then up a string and one below the root to get to this spot)?

It is somewhat hard to find sites that teach this sort of thing, and by reading various articles on wikipedia, practicing scales, and that sort of thing, this is the conclusion I have come to.

If the above is true, would this also mean that there is no such thing as a minor or major fifth? When I am practicing my scales, the 5th note of the scale seems to fall on the same place with either.

Bear with me if I sound like an idiot here, there is still a lot that I don't know.

Not at all an idiot, wisdom starts with asking questions. You are correct - take a major scale (aka Ionic mode), and there are seven different notes in the scale. A chord is often created by combining the 1, 3, 5, and 7 of the scale, with emphasis on the 1 and 5. An arpeggio is typically a scale played with just these notes, i.e. no 2, 4 or 6.

You might also see the terms "diminished" or "minor." Diminished is a term used to indicate that what is normally a regular 4 or 5 is played one fret flat. "Minor" is used to indicate that what is normally a regular 2, 3, 6 or 7 is played one fret flat.

For example - GMaj7: a regular chord built off the G Major scale.
G7: same as above, but with a minor 7 (not a minor chord though, it just has a flat 7).
Gdim5: Same as the first example, but with a flat 5.

You might also see 9ths, 11ths and 13ths. These are a fancier way of saying 2nds, 4ths and 6ths. Usually that note, but played above the octave, therefore given the higher numbers. These are added for colour, and usually imply a minor 7, so you might have a G11. This would be a G7 with a high 4th added on the bottom string.

"Suspended" means you play the 2nd or 4th within the octave, so a G7sus4 would use the same notes as a G11, but the C would likely be played on the A string or the E string.