This lesson covers the most basic building blocks of music and music theory: Intervals. This first part covers semitones, tones and intervals of the major scale. It also has a look at the construction of the Major scale. This is all shown with reference to the bass guitar neck.
What Are Intervals?
An interval is a measurement/unit of musical distance. The smallest interval we have in western music is a semitone, which is the distance between two notes played one fret apart from each other on the bass. The next interval up is a tone, which is a distance of two frets. A series of tones and semitones can be put together to create a scale. The major scale is constructed using the following sequence:
Tone, Tone, Semitone, Tone, Tone, Tone, Semitone
If we apply this sequence starting from C, we get the C major scale:
Make sure you memorise the shape of this pattern as it can be moved all around the neck to create a major scale in every key.
Intervals Within The Major Scale
To begin with, let’s number the notes in the major scale:
C D E F G A B C
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
These numbers are referred to as scale degrees and we can use them to describe melodies and bass lines with reference to which notes of the scale or key are being used. Here are the degrees of the C major scale again with the notation:
The major scale is classed as a seven-note scale, even though we play eight. This is becuase the scale begins and ends on the same note – the tonic.
So, going back to the intervals within the major scale. We keep the number degrees the same as above but add one extra word to each interval. The first, fourth and fifth degrees become perfect – perfect unison, perfect fourth and perfect fifth. The rest become major intervals – major second, major third, major sixth and major seventh.
Knowing and recognising these intervals will have a profound effect on the speed at which you learn. They will form the basis of everything you learn from basic basslines to advanced music theory.
A good exercise for learning the shape and sound of the intervals is to take an interval and play it over and over, going up one fret each time and then coming back the same way once you reach the 12th fret. Do this with every interval until you feel confident about how it sounds and feels.
Don’t worry about doing too much too fast – it is much more important to get the shape under your fingers first.
Melodic or harmonic intervals?
Intervals can be referred to in two different ways – melodic and harmonic. A harmonic interval is when two notes are played at the same time and a melodic interval is when they are played one after the other.
ex. lesson great building block
These lessons are perfect!
Genio! Gracias!
I feel like I am seeing for the first time. Your instruction is clear and takes the mystery out of music theory. I now feel that I can become the kind of player I ve known I can be. May God Bless you. Got to practice.
Bravo! Looking forward to a wonderful set of lessons!
I am finding these lessons superb in their linear construction and design, their clarity, and I am amazed at Mark’s ability to communicate his immense knowledge with ease and cheerfulness. Thank you Mark J. Smith, you provide a great service for next to nothing for bass players everywhere. One day I hope to half as good as you as I put this education you provide into practice.
I have just taken lesson 4 of the Beginner’s Course (Rhythm) and realized my timing was quite poor and am finding Mark’s techniques the way to improve, so it’s never too late to relearn the better way.
Thanks again to all involved in putting this site together.
Before I started my adventure with the Bass I’ve been playing the electric guitar for 8 years by myself only. I mean, if I had had this kind of assistance before, today I would a soooooooo much better musician.
You are a true musician, sir, For this kind of assistance is not only helpful, it’s a true form of love for your instrument of choice and music itself.
10000000000000000 thank you……..
Thanks good lesson
Mark really appreciate all this stuff
This helped me a great deal to understand musical terms and relate them to the instrument. Thanks
After many years of absence from playing I am grateful to have found such easy to follow instruction on an instrument I love. Thank you Mark
Mark, you are truly remarkable, your teaching method is great, I’m now beginning to see where I’m going. Thanks a lot for your hard work, really appreciate this! God bless you mate!
Thanks for this simple but powerful lesson
thanks again Mark great lesson
Mark you are a great teacher.
Thank you, merci, et bravo !
I know I have to practice but now many things are clear !
Mark I’ve been on your website for 3 years now , how do you remember all of this information.
I’m still having problems remembering the name of notes on my fretboard yet I remember everything that’s happened to me in the past. I remember names , dates , if it rained that day all the way to childhood yet I can’t remember the notes on my neck. I never forget anything you’ve played on your website , I can play most everything you’ve showed us. Maybe one day it will all link together for me , I learn mostly by ear and visual , the first thing I hear listening to any song is the bass and I visualize how it’s played and I can get pretty close fast.
Nevertheless I enjoy all of your videos and learned a lot from you.
Thank you ,,,
I’ve been playing bass, well let’s say that I picked it up 50+ years ago and played every type of music imaginable. Now with your help, I can actually understand what I’m doing, giving honor to the instrument and profession!
Hi Mark,
I’ve joined your web site, and love the way to present your lessons. I’m am very new to the bass world, and watching your videos is inspiring. I have quite a bit to learn yet. It was your walking bass lesson really made me a fan of your site.
Thank you for sharing, and hosting this site.
S C Lentini
Being older, And never havivng studied. Music or played an instrument,, I did not feel I. Thad time. For those lessons but if you have time to teach them so well I have time to learthis The is, lacking these lessons, one learns the next lessons much much. Slower. This is the faster way. Thanks for taking the time to p rrovide rhe building blocks.
Amazing lessons Mark…I’m so glad I found you
I love your lessons. I am really enjoying the theoretical guidance, playing, seems more logical. I have a U-Bass, are there any considerations or adjustments I need to make? Because I’m using the u-bass over a standard bass?
Good lesson Mark
You’re the best, keep it up my friend, Godbless
So clear and informative. I have seen so many great players and lesson sites as well as many on-site instructors. You, are a gifted instructor. Thank you so much.
I have been playing guitar and singing for over twenty years….just chords basically. I didn’t have much faith in myself where music theory was concerned and have given up many times before on modes, scales, lead etc. You have given me hope. I have acquired a bass guitar and finally things are starting to fall into place thanks to you. I am so grateful to have found you. Your teaching is clear and concise, yet simplistic. Your teaching is amazing. I am 59 years old. Thank you so much Mark.
Great lesson! Thank you!
It’s beginning to make sense. Thanks Mark!
been playing for about a year, but now I feel I’m on my way! Thanks Mark!
Hi Mark, So appreciate the way you break things down into bite sized pieces; I am though beginning to grasp some concepts that I have so struggled with. Your teaching style is so organized and intuitive.
You are such a gifted teacher. Thank you for your generous and patient spirit and for your approach of encouragement and support.
Blessings : – )
I started playing Bass about 2 years ago. My good friend who is a fantastic guitar player who can also play the bass and write original compositions on both instruments wanted me to learn to play so I could take some of the weight off his shoulders from the song writting duties. ( I originally played Piano and I write all our drum work and lyrics) so he taught me a few of our songs and I picked up on playing the instrument right away but on a, “I have to see how your doing it” approch. I’ve always learned that way over learning theory, so when it came to writing my own melodies, rythems, solos I was completly frustrated. So I layed the bass down for about a year until I came across Mark playing Sofleggietto. I watched his video intently, the way he teaches is incredible, after watching the video fully, I went straight to talking bass.net and down loaded the homework and went to work determinded to learn that piece. I have never read music, I am just now learning the notes on the bass and I can play the whole begining of Sofleggietto, ( the entire length of what he taught on that video and a little beyond, not percectly but I’m doing very well) Now I’m hell bent to learn this instrument correctly, I have been devouring alot of these amazing videos and as soon as I get my internet up in my home( I have recently moved far deep in the country) I am going to buy one of his courses So I can get the full instructional experience from Mark, so I can become the best I can. Mark, you have impressed me beyond words with all your amazing lessons. Thank you for creating such an amazing tool box.
I started playing Bass about 2 years ago. My good friend who is a fantastic guitar player who can also play the bass and write original compositions on both instruments wanted me to learn to play so I could take some of the weight off his shoulders from the song writting duties. ( I originally played Piano and I write all our drum work and lyrics) so he taught me a few of our songs and I picked up on playing the instrument right away but on a, “I have to see how your doing it” approch. I’ve always learned that way over learning theory, so when it came to writing my own melodies, rythems, solos I was completly frustrated. So I layed the bass down for about a year until I came across Mark playing Sofleggietto. I watched his video intently, the way he teaches is incredible, after watching the video fully, I went straight to talking bass.net and down loaded the homework and went to work determinded to learn that piece. I have never read music, I am just now learning the notes on the bass and I can play the whole begining of Sofleggietto, ( the entire length of what he taught on that video and a little beyond, not percectly but I’m doing very well) Now I’m hell bent to learn this instrument correctly, I have been devouring alot of these amazing videos and as soon as I get my internet up in my home( I have recently moved far deep in the country I’ve watched everything from my phone so far) I am going to buy one of his courses So I can get the full instructional experience from Mark, so I can become the best I can. Mark, you have impressed me beyond words with all your amazing lessons. Thank you for creating such an amazing tool box.
Thx for the lesson :D
clear and precise, just what I need to get me back on track
I’ve been trying bass learning on the web and Talkingbass is undoubtely by far the best website around. Thank you, Mark.
Best bass teacher on the internet!
Thank you Mr Mark, you are a genius, you have the most amazing ability to translate the music knowledge in such a comprehensive way. Thank you.
Mr mark you are by far the best teacher, some teachers keep music theory, just a theory!!! But you brake it down and make it so easy to learn and understand!!!! I’m so glad I found your you tube videos and your web page!!!!! Your the best!!! Thank you
Tks for the lesson!
Thank you man keep it up :)
this lockdown is doing some good more time for talking bass
Bahama Boy here Mark, way out in the Bahamas! Recently got rid a the kids have some spare time now and always dreamed a learning the bass. Man so thankful to have come across your site! You are a bass sensei and teacher! You make it a pleasure Mark, Blessings!
Wow…Look at what I have been missing all these while.
Love this site and Mark’s teaching makes things clearer and easier
thanks for the lesson, ill work it again. Mark , you the best bass teacher!!!
I love this
Brilliant teaching, thank you Mark!
Great lesson
This es great stuff. Thanks, Mark.
You obviously know music! You reference PDF files for each lesson that I can download. I cannot find them. Please help. Thanks.
good stuff
Watching your lessons mark, for me is like you showing me how the puzzle pieces I’ve been looking at for years, fits together. I’m beginning to see a picture in the chaos of terms and practice suggestions. Thank you sir!