3 semitones · pure 6:5
The minor third
Three semitones, the third that makes a chord minor. It sounds darker and softer than a major third, and together its two notes blend sweetly.
Songs that start with a minor third
Going up: Greensleeves, from its first note to its second. Going down: Jesus Loves Me, the hymn, from "Je-" to "-sus".
The minor third in harmony
A minor chord is a minor third with a major third on top: A, C, E. A major chord is the other way round. Tuned pure, a minor third is 6:5, about 16 cents (a cent is a hundredth of a semitone) wider than a piano's, which is why a choir's minor chord can sound warmer than a keyboard's.
More intervals
- Minor secondOde to Joy (after the repeated first note)
- Major secondHappy Birthday (after the repeated first note)
- Major thirdWhen the Saints Go Marching In
- Perfect fourthAmazing Grace; Here Comes the Bride
- Tritone
- Perfect fifthTwinkle, Twinkle, Little Star (after the repeated first note)
- Minor sixthThe Entertainer (its first high note)
- Major sixthMy Bonnie Lies over the Ocean
- Minor seventh
- Major seventh
- OctaveTake Me Out to the Ball Game
Free tools by Stackapella
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Questions
What is a minor third?
An interval of three semitones: A to C, or E to G. It's the bottom third of a minor chord.
How do I tell a minor third from a major third?
A major third is one semitone wider and sounds bright, like When the Saints Go Marching In; a minor third sounds darker, like Greensleeves. Play them one after the other here to compare.
Does a minor third always sound sad?
No. Its colour is darker, but plenty of cheerful tunes use it; whether music sounds sad depends on much more, like tempo and the chords around it.
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