1.12 Major and minor second
| Category: Harmony | Tags: Intervals, Ear training: intervals |
Theory
In Chapter 1.11 Second, third, fourth and fifth you’ve learned what a second is. In this chapter, you will learn that there are two kinds of seconds, namely the major second and the minor second. In the videos and examples I show how to make major and minor seconds. You learn to recognize major and minor seconds and you are going to make them yourself in the exercises. You will also learn to distinguish major and minor seconds by ear.
1. What are major and minor seconds?
When you play seconds on the piano, you can see that the distance between the tones of the different kinds of seconds is not always the same. For example, between the tones of the second C D is one (black) key.
But, this isn’t the case with all of the seconds. For example, between the tones of the second E F is no key.
Therefore, the second C D is greater than the second E F.
The second C D is called a major second and second E F is called a minor second.
Also by ear, you can hear a difference between a major second and a minor second.
The major second C D.
The minor second E F.
Video
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Examples
Which second are major and which are minor?
2. Minor seconds
Video
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Examples
Which tones do you get if you make minor seconds on the natural notes?
3. Major seconds
Video
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Examples
Which tones do you get if you make major seconds on the natural notes?
4. Practise
Harmony exercise 1e: practise recognizing major and minor seconds from musical notation.
Harmony exercise 1f: practise making major and minor seconds on the natural notes.
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Practise
Ear Training exercise 1g: practise distinguishing the difference between a major and minor second by ear.
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Which interval do you hear?
Choise 1: major second
Choise 2: minor second
Practical steps
Sing the interval being played to train your inner hearing abilties. Decide which interval is being played.
Answer: major second.
Summary
Major and minor second
- The distance of E to F is called a minor second
- The distance of C to D is called a major second
Major and minor second on the natural notes |
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| natural note | minor second | major second |
| A | A Bb | A B |
| B | B C | B C# |
| C | C Db | C D |
| D | D Eb | D E |
| E | E F | E F# |
| F | F Gb | F G |
| G | G Ab | G A |
Practise
Harmony exercise 1e: practise recognizing major and minor seconds from musical notation.
Harmony exercise 1f: practise making major and minor seconds on the natural notes.
Get the full courseEar training
Ear Training exercise 1g: practise distinguishing the difference between a major and minor second by ear.
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