Interval · 7 half steps
Perfect fifth
A perfect fifth is 7 half steps. From C, a perfect fifth up is G.
- Half steps
- 7
- Short name
- P5
- Guitar frets
- 7
How it sounds
The most stable interval after the octave. Hollow and powerful. A rock power chord is just a root and a fifth.
Songs to remember it by
Hum the start of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star or the Star Wars main theme. The jump between the first two notes is a perfect fifth. Reference songs get you started; after a while you will hear the interval itself.
On the guitar
The next higher string, 2 frets up. That is the power chord shape. With the lower note on the low E or A string in standard tuning; shapes that cross from the G string to the B string move up one fret.
A perfect fifth up from every note
| From | Up a perfect fifth | Hear it |
|---|---|---|
| C | G | |
| D♭ | A♭ | |
| D | A | |
| E♭ | B♭ | |
| E | B | |
| F | C | |
| F♯ | C♯ | |
| G | D | |
| A♭ | E♭ | |
| A | E | |
| B♭ | F | |
| B | F♯ |
Chords with a perfect fifth above the root
This interval is one of the answers in the game’s “How far apart?” round.