Major Seconds - Intervals For Bass Beginners

Paul Wolfe: Hi this is Paul Wolfe from how-to-play-bass.com here; this video article is a article on the topic of intervals. And specifically we are going to look at the topic of major second. Now we are going to look at the interval of a major second how many semi tones that involve in it. We are going to look at where major second is found in the major scale. And we are going to look at what it sounds like, both ascending and descending.

The distance between two notes that are major second apart is two semi tones. So on a piano you simply count up two keys and that will give you a major second. For example if you go from C and count of one to C sharp and then two to D that give you major second. Or okay, you can find the interval of a major second within the major scale. Here this graphic in front of you is the major scale of C. So that's all the white notes on piano from C to C so C D E F G A B and C. And in this scale there are five instances of a major second occurring.

The fist one it's between the first and second degrees which is C to D, the second instance is from the second to the third degree. Which is from D to E, the third instance is from the fourth to the fifth degree not the note F to G. The fourth instance is from the fifth and sixth degrees, which is G to A there as another major second there. And finally if we go from the sixth to the seventh degree which is A to B that's also major second.

So major seconds can go up or they can go down, major seconds that go up are described as ascending and major seconds that go down are described as descending. So starting from C at the third fret of the A string, here is what an ascending major second sounds like. And you make it by going up two frets that you are going from C to D.

Okay, for descending major second again we are going to start from c of the third fret of the A string. And this is what it's going to sound like and to make a descending major second you do down two frets from C. So from the third fret to the first fret which is the note B flat, now gives you, your descending major second and it sounds like this.

For ear training purposes a melodic motif that uses ascending major seconds is walking on the moon. For ear training purposes a melodic motif that uses descending major second is the first two notes of three blind mice. Its sounds like this.

For more articles on intervals and other common base terms that beginners need to know. Please head over to my website at www.how-to-play-bass.com don't forget all the hyphens as written on the screen and look for the glossary page I'll see you in the next video.


Transcription by: Scribe4you Transcription Services