Seconds, Sixths and Sevenths on Guitar

After the five core intervals, the rest are the seconds, sixths and sevenths. A minor second is one fret and a major second two; a minor sixth is eight frets and a major sixth nine; a minor seventh is ten and a major seventh eleven. The quickest way to find the larger ones is from the octave: a seventh sits one or two frets below it, a sixth three or four.

The intervals that come next

The guitar intervals guide recommends learning five intervals first: the minor and major third, perfect fourth, perfect fifth and octave. Once those are automatic, the remaining six fill in the gaps, and they're the ones that turn plain chords into sevenths and sixths and give melodies their steps. This guide is part of the interval lessons.

One idea makes them much easier: every interval has a partner that adds up to an octave. A second and a seventh together make twelve semitones; so do a third and a sixth. A major sixth up from a note lands on the same note name as a minor third down from it. That means you can find most of these intervals from shapes you already know.

Seconds: the steps of every scale

A minor second (one semitone) is one fret; a major second (a whole tone) is two. They're the smallest intervals, and almost every scale is built from them: the major scale is a sequence of major and minor seconds.

On the next string up, a major second is three frets back and a minor second four frets back. In practice you'll usually play seconds on the same string, but the cross-string shape is how three-note-per-string scale fingerings fit under the hand.

Minor and major seconds from A at the 5th fret of the low E string, on the same string and on the A string. low E string: A, R (root) at fret 5, A sharp, flat 2 at fret 6, B, 2 at fret 7; A string: A sharp, flat 2 at fret 1, B, 2 at fret 2.

From A (5th fret): seconds one and two frets up the same string, or four and three frets back on the next string

Seconds also show up in chords. A sus2 chord replaces the third with the major second: A sus2 is A, B and E. With no third, it's neither major nor minor, which is why it sounds open and unresolved.

Sevenths and sixths: count back from the octave

On one string, sixths and sevenths are a long stretch: eight to eleven frets. Across strings they're easy, because they sit just below the octave shape. From a root on the low E or A string, the octave is two strings up and two frets forward. Step back from there:

  • Major seventh (11 semitones) — one fret below the octave.
  • Minor seventh (10) — two frets below the octave, on the same fret as the root.
  • Major sixth (9) — three frets below the octave.
  • Minor sixth (8) — four frets below the octave.
Sixths, sevenths and the octave from A at the 5th fret of the low E string, two strings up on the D string. low E string: A, R (root) at fret 5; D string: F, flat 6 at fret 3, F sharp, 6 at fret 4, G, flat 7 at fret 5, G sharp, 7 at fret 6, A, 8 (root) at fret 7.

From A on the low E string: minor sixth, major sixth, minor seventh, major seventh and octave in a row on the D string

As with every cross-string shape, add one fret when the pair of strings includes the G–B step. From a root on the D or G string, each of these lands one fret further forward, exactly as the octave does. The full table of offsets is in the intervals quick reference.

Sevenths in chords

Sevenths are what turn triads into seventh chords, and the difference between the two kinds is one fret:

  • Dominant seventh (1, 3, 5, ♭7) — a major triad with a minor seventh. Bluesy and restless; it wants to resolve.
  • Major seventh (1, 3, 5, 7) — a major triad with a major seventh. Soft, warm and settled.
  • Minor seventh (1, ♭3, 5, ♭7) — a minor triad with a minor seventh. Mellow rather than dark.

You can hear the difference in one shape. Play an E-shape A major barre at the 5th fret, then lower the root on the D string by two frets, from the 7th to the 5th: that G is the minor seventh, and the chord is A7. Move it up one fret, to the 6th, and that G♯ is the major seventh: Amaj7.

Sixths in melodies: playing in sixths

Sixths are the sound of a lot of soul, country and Motown guitar: two notes a sixth apart, moving together through a scale. On the G and high e strings, a major sixth is the same fret on both strings, and a minor sixth puts the high e one fret back. Skip the B string, using your fingers or hybrid picking.

The C major scale in sixths on the G and high e strings from the 5th fret: C and A, D and B, E and C, F and D, G and E. G string: C (root) at fret 5, D at fret 7, E at fret 9, F at fret 10, G at fret 12; high e string: A at fret 5, B at fret 7, C (root) at fret 8, D at fret 10, E at fret 12.

C major in sixths on the G and high e strings: C–A, D–B, E–C, F–D, G–E. Cs in green.

Most pairs are major sixths at the same fret; E–C is a minor sixth, with the high e one fret back. The same idea works on the D and B strings, where a major sixth is also the same fret on both. Sixths are also in chords: C6 is a C major triad with an added A, the major sixth, and the major sixth above any major key's root is the root of its relative minor.

A ten-minute practice routine

  1. Two minutes — seconds. From random notes on the low E string, play the minor and major second above and below, saying the names.
  2. Three minutes — back from the octave. From roots on the low E and A strings, play the octave two strings up, then step back through the major seventh, minor seventh, major sixth and minor sixth.
  3. Two minutes — seventh chords. Turn an E-shape barre chord into a dominant seventh and a major seventh by moving the D-string root, then do the same with the minor shape.
  4. Three minutes — sixths. Play C major in sixths on the G and high e strings, up and down, then improvise short phrases using pairs from it.

If you're training your ear at the same time, add each new interval to the singing drills in the ear training guide once the five core intervals are reliable.

Seconds, sixths and sevenths FAQs

How do I find a seventh quickly on the fretboard?

Find the octave and step back. From a root on the low E or A string, the octave is two strings up and two frets forward; the major seventh is one fret behind it, and the minor seventh two, on the same fret as the root. Add a fret if the shape crosses from the G string to the B string.

What's the difference between a dominant seventh and a major seventh chord?

Both are a major triad plus a seventh. A dominant seventh adds the minor seventh, ten semitones above the root, and sounds bluesy and unresolved; a major seventh adds the major seventh, eleven semitones up, and sounds smooth and settled. In the same chord shape the two are often one fret apart.

What does playing in sixths mean on guitar?

It means playing two notes a sixth apart and moving them together through a scale, usually on two strings with one skipped, such as the G and high e. It's a common sound in soul, country and Motown guitar parts.

What is a sus2 chord?

A sus2 chord replaces the third of a triad with the major second, so A sus2 is A, B and E. Without a third it's neither major nor minor, which gives it an open, unresolved sound that often moves back to the major or minor chord.

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