intervals for beginners

i dont know what is meant by intervals for beginners. look here:
http://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=10663&c_id=2&ch_id=10&s_id=362
you go down a 5th, then go back 5 steps, and one string over? is this the rule? what does he mean?
anyone with any advice please help !
thanks

Originally Posted by: dr50376272you go down a 5th, then go back 5 steps, and one string over? is this the rule? what does he mean?

Interval is the musical distance between two notes.

In that lesson I start by showing it is possible to apply the concept of the interval anywhere on the guitar. So, I show how any two notes that are 4 frets apart on the same string are always an interval of 4 frets, or two whole steps apart, otherwise known as a major third. Always and anywhere on the guitar; or on any musical instrument for that matter.

However, the trickiest part of learning to apply this idea of intervals to the guitar, is that frequently the two notes you are trying to "see" the interval between are on two different strings. It's easy if the two notes are on the same string, you can simply look and count the frets from one note to the next.

In order to explain how to figure out the interval between two notes on different strings I first show the distance of 7 frets, or 7 half-steps, or a musical fifth, on the same string. Then I show how to locate the higher note on a different string.

This is the "rule" you are asking about. If you start on a note and count 5 frets back and one string up, you will get the same note.

So, now we can use the image on the lesson page to understand how the note E is located in three different places on the guitar (same pitch, different locations). And the interval between the low A and next E up is always a fifth. No matter which E we are referring to, it's always a fifth from that A and that E.

Make sense?

i dont think this can be the rule. for example, look at f on 3nd string, 10th fret. its F. go one down (A), then 5 steps it becomes E, not F.

am i wrong here?

Originally Posted by: dr50376272i dont think this can be the rule.

Ah ha! I forgot to mention the exception. :)

5 frets is the rule for crossing all strings, except from the G to B. Since the B string is tuned at the fourth fret, the rule changes to 4 frets down and 1 string up when moving from the G to B string.

In the interval example I was only talking about the E, A & D strings. So, I was only thinking about those. I was not as thorough as I should have been. Sorry for any confusion!

Make sense now?

thanks for that ! makes sense now :-)
i think i just jumped the gun, again, going 90 miles an hour through a carpark. i should just relax, slow down, and go one step at a time.
hey, anyway, i see how much you love to teach in these lessons and thats super. really, its like you WANT to do it, not because you have to. refreshing !
peace !

Originally Posted by: dr50376272
thanks for that ! makes sense now :-)
[/quote]
OK, good deal!
[QUOTE=dr50376272]
hey, anyway, i see how much you love to teach in these lessons and thats super. really, its like you WANT to do it, not because you have to.

That is absolutely true. I really want and love to play and teach guitar. It's my passion. :) Thanks for noticing.

Here are some links to more lessons on intervals. Christopher's videos are great, but it also helps to have multiple takes on how to practice this concept. Having a good grasp on intervals really makes a good guitarist sound great. Enjoy.

Major Scale Intervals: Rock Guitar Level 2

Minor Scale Intervals: Rock Guitar Level 2

thanks for the advice. ill check them out soon !
regards