The major second
- C1
- D2
A major second is two semitones, from C to D. Inverted, with the lower note moved up an octave, it becomes the minor seventh.
Its short name is M2, and it is also called tone or whole step. Counted in letters, it spans two letter names, which is why it is written C to D rather than with another name for the same pitch.
The major second on 6-string bass
On 6-string bass, the major second is three frets back when you cross to the next string, and two frets up along one string.
Every pair of neighbouring strings gives the same shape, because the strings of this tuning are evenly spaced. Once you have learned the shape, it works anywhere on the neck.
On the staff
On a bass staff, the two notes are written C and D.
The staff shows the two notes one after the other, then together. C to D spans two letter names, which is what the interval's name counts. What you hear is a distance of two semitones.
On the keyboard
A keyboard makes this distance easy to see, where a fretboard hides it. The upper note is two keys along from the lower one, counting black and white keys alike.
C and D on the whole neck
26 notes are marked across six strings.
This diagram marks both notes of the major second, C and D, everywhere they fall on 6-string bass. You can find every pair shown above somewhere on it.
A major second above every note
| From | A major second up |
|---|---|
| C | D |
| D♭ | E♭ |
| D | E |
| E♭ | F |
| E | F♯ |
| F | G |
| F♯ | G♯ |
| G | A |
| A♭ | B♭ |
| A | B |
| B♭ | C |
| B | C♯ |
C–D, D♭–E♭, D–E, E♭–F, E–F♯, F–G, F♯–G♯, G–A, A♭–B♭, A–B, B♭–C, B–C♯
The shapes above do not change with the key, which is the reason to learn an interval as a shape. Only the note names change, and this table gives them for every starting note.