Understanding Intervals

Hi Barrett

I am working my way through your Chord Tone Soloing book and am so far half way through Part II. It has already improved my understanding for guitar playing a lot. Your books are the best guitar learning material I have ever read - and that's a lot. Thank you!

I'm having a problem with understanding the 6ths intervals on page 34 (track 20). How can it be 6ths if you are in the key of C?
C-E = 3rd interval
It would make sense to me if we were in the key of E: E-C = 6th interval.

I can see the tones are the same, but not how it can be a 6ths interval? Won't E always be the 3rd tone in the key of C?

Could you please explain to me how to understand this? Thank you again
-Martin from Denmark
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Hi Martin,
We use a number like "3rd" to describe two things. This is how there can be confusion.

A "3rd" is a scale degree (which is what you are thinking). As you say E is always the 3rd degree in the key of C major.

A "3rd" is also an interval: the exact distance between any two pitches. Not just from one C to the next higher E. There is more than one C and more than one E. Which C and which E do we mean?

From C up to E is a 3rd:

C D E
1 2 3

And from E down to C is also 3rd.

E D C
3 2 1

but from E up to a higher C is a 6th:

C D E F G A B C
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
   (1 2 3 4 5 6)

From C to an even higher E is a 10th:

C D E F G A B C D E
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Please let me know if this helps you. And thank you very much for getting my book.
Barrett