The Lego Way: Transform Your Playing with These Interval-Building Exercises

Intervals, or the distance between two notes, are a cornerstone of harmony, melody, and chord building on guitar. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where I grew up, rhumba and soukous music are central to guitar playing, and intervals are everywhere—a part of tradition. But as I explained recently in an Acoustic Guitar interview, my understanding of them shifted one day while playing Lego Star Wars with my son.

Each Lego brick, with its different number of studs, reminded me of intervals: two studs for a second, three for a third, and so on. Inspired, I picked up my guitar and started improvising with thirds and sixths, moving from smaller to larger intervals. Switching between them naturally created counterpoint, intuitive and effortless—an approach I now call the Lego way.

Practicing intervals unlocks more than harmony or melody; it improves finger coordination and economy of motion—and one’s general understanding of the fretboard. In this lesson, we’ll focus on thirds, sixths, and tenths. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of intervals in general and how they can transform your guitar playing.

Week One

Let’s begin by focusing on playing thirds up and down the fretboard within the C major scale (C D E F G A B), as shown in Example 1. Think of these intervals as small Lego bricks with three studs. Play each interval as a double-stop—two notes sounded together. Thirds come in two qualities/shapes: major (M) and minor (m). It’s important to note that due to the guitar’s tuning, the shapes differ when played on the G and B strings. The goal this week is to train your fretting hand to recognize the shapes and use your picking hand to pluck two notes simultaneously.

Begin this exercise with your fourth finger on the tenth-fret A and your first finger on the eighth-fret C. To transition smoothly to the next set of notes, release your first finger from the C while keeping your fourth finger on the A, and use your third finger to press the tenth-fret F. This fingering ensures efficient and fluid movement.

For the right hand, pluck the first interval with your thumb and middle finger, followed by the next interval with your thumb and index finger. Maintain this alternating pattern throughout the exercise for consistency and smoothness.

Beginners’ Tip #1

I play these exercises fingerstyle, but if you’re using a plectrum, use it to play the bottom note of each interval, and pluck the higher note with your middle or ring finger.

Week Two

This week, we’ll focus on playing major and minor sixths—Lego bricks with six studs—within the G major scale (G A B C D E F#). Like thirds, sixths have distinct shapes that require careful fingering. Move vertically up and down the fretboard while keeping a relaxed posture. Internalize the shapes and movements shown in Example 2, and once you’re comfortable, gradually increase the tempo.

The key to mastering sixths like these is to synchronize your mind and fingers. Stay relaxed and pay attention to your breathing—observe your natural inhalation and exhalation. This centered approach will help your fingers move more effortlessly and fluidly.

Beginners’ Tip #2

To achieve the proper technique and flow, pay attention to the movement of your arms, not just your fingers.

Week Three

Let’s now look at tenths, which are thirds plus an octave—larger Lego bricks with ten studs. In Congolese music, tenths are often used by rhythm guitar players. To play Example 3, as before, work slowly to get the shapes in your muscle memory, and pay close attention to your picking hand’s wrist—keep it straight and neutral for better control and comfort.

Tenths are a wide and slightly more challenging interval to play, so take your time and go especially slow. For the right hand, use this finger configuration: thumb and index finger for the first interval, thumb and middle finger for the next, and thumb and ring finger after that, alternating in this pattern. For the left hand, be sure to use your fourth finger when playing notes on the E string to maintain proper technique.

Beginners’ Tip #3

When learning something new, slow practice is essential. If you feel like you’re struggling, remind yourself to slow down. Accuracy comes first; speed will follow naturally.

Week Four

By now, you should be comfortable with thirds, sixths, and tenths. This week, we’ll explore these intervals in several different contexts. Example 5 alternates between thirds and sixths within the C major scale, fitting together Lego blocks of different sizes. This creates contrary motion (two lines moving in opposite directions), which might feel counterintuitive at first because it challenges the way your fingers normally move. Start slow and use a metronome set to 60 bpm, playing two beats per interval. The exercise will take you diagonally and horizontally across the fretboard, introducing a new way to navigate the guitar. When you’re comfortable, you can start experimenting with different intervals. The possibilities are limitless.

Example 6 is a rhumba guitar accompaniment in the first position. It’s built primarily from tenths and also includes sixths on beat 1.5 of bars 1 and 3. This figure is best played with the right hand’s thumb, index, and middle fingers.

Example 7 is a rhythm guitar part I used to play on a soul song composed by my friend Harry J. It’s built around sixths, with bass notes played on the low E and A strings. For the right hand, use your index and middle fingers to pluck strings 2 and 4 simultaneously, and your thumb to pluck strings 5 and 6.

By combining this lesson’s varied approaches to intervals, you’ll develop finger independence, coordination, and a fresh understanding of the fretboard. Whether you call it counterpoint or the Lego way, this system will give you new tools for improvisation and composition. Practice with patience, and soon these intervals will become a natural part of your playing.

Beginners’ Tip #4

For intervals—or anything else—consistency is key. Practice often, be patient, and enjoy the process.

Take it to the next level

This contrary-motion exercise explores new intervals, including fifths, sevenths, ninths, 11ths, and 13ths, all within the C major scale. Start with a third on strings 2 and 3 at the fifth fret, then slide into a fifth (B and F). Continue by forming a seventh (A and G) and a ninth by barring the fifth fret on strings 1 and 4. Progress through each position to discover how these shapes unlock fresh, non-linear possibilities.