3.5 Major and minor third
Category: Harmony | Tags: Intervals, Ear training: intervals |
Theory
In Chapter 1.11 Second, third, fourth and fifth you’ve learned what a third is. In this chapter, you will learn that there are two kinds of thirds, namely the major third and the minor third. In the videos and examples I show how to make major and minor thirds. You learn to recognize major and minor thirds and you are going to make them yourself in the exercises. You will also learn to distinguish major and minor thirds by ear.
1. What are major and minor thirds?
When you play thirds on the piano, you can see that the distance between the tones of the different kinds of thirds is not always the same. For example, between the tones of the third C E are three keys.

But, this isn’t the case with all of the thirds. For example, between the tones of the third D F are two keys.

Therefore, the third C E is greater than the third D F.
The third C E is called a major third and the third D F is called a minor third.
Also by ear, you can hear a difference between a major third and a minor third.
The major third C E
The minor third C Eb
Video
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Examples
Which thirds are major and which are minor?
2. Minor thirds
Video
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Examples
Which tones do you get if you make minor thirds on the natural notes?
3. Major thirds
Video
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Examples
Which tones do you get if you make major thirds on the natural notes?
4. Practise
Harmony exercise 3a: practise recognizing major and minor thirds from musical notation.
Harmony exercise 3b: practise making major and minor thirds on the natural notes.
Harmony exercise 3c: practise making major and minor thirds on all notes.
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Practise
Ear Training exercise 3l: practise distinguishing the difference between a major and minor third by ear.
Ear Training exercise 3m: practise distinguishing the difference between major and minor seconds and thirds by ear.
Get the full courseExample question
Which interval do you hear?
Choise 1: major second
Choise 2: minor second
Choise 3: major third
Choise 4: minor third
Practical steps
Sing the interval being played to train your inner hearing abilties. Decide which interval is being played.
Answer: major third.
Summary
Major and minor third
- The distance of D to F is called a minor third
- The distance of C to E is called a major third
Major and minor third on the natural notes |
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natural note | minor third | major third |
A | A C | A C# |
B | B D | B D# |
C | C Eb | C E |
D | D F | D F# |
E | E G | E G# |
F | F Ab | F A |
G | G Bb | G B |
Practise
Harmony exercise 3a: practise recognizing major and minor thirds from musical notation.
Harmony exercise 3b: practise making major and minor thirds on the natural notes.
Harmony exercise 3c: practise making major and minor thirds on all notes.
Get the full courseEar training
Ear Training exercise 3l: practise distinguishing the difference between a major and minor third by ear.
Ear Training exercise 3m: practise distinguishing the difference between major and minor seconds and thirds by ear.
Get the full course