Thanks for the explanation.

Follow up question. 

1. If I'm practicing the A minor scale and start on the 5th fret of the low E string (A note) and I'm calling out intervals.  Should I call out 1 as the first note or 6 (relative to C major)?


2. If I start with 1 and I get to the flat 3rd.  Why is it considered the flat 3rd, when the note is C and not C flat? 

Thanks in advance, Paul.