Many guitar students find that they begin to progress much faster when they start to focus on interval shapes. After all, intervals are the building blocks of all melodies and chords. Here is a reference chart showing the different possible shapes for intervals no larger than an octave.

An interval played on a single string can be transferred to any other string, but remember that interval shapes using more than one string are altered by the change of tuning between the guitar’s third and second string. The shapes given all keep to within a span of five frets, and none skip more than one string, meaning they can be practiced with pick or fingers. If the intervals are practiced in conjunction with learning the position of notes along the length of the fingerboard, vast strides can be made in fretboard knowledge and sight reading.

Guitar Interval Chart