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  3. Ch.4.9 Major and minor sixth

4.9 Major and minor sixth

 

Category: Harmony | Tags: Intervals, Ear training: intervals

Theory

In Chapter 2.7 Sixth, seventh and octave you’ve learned what a sixth is. In this chapter, you will learn that there are two kinds of sixths, namely the major sixth and the minor sixth. In the videos and examples I show how to make major and minor sixths. You learn to recognize major and minor sixths and you are going to make them yourself in the exercises. You will also learn to distinguish major and minor sixths by ear.

1. What are major and minor sixths?

When you play sixths on the piano, you can see that the distance between the tones of the different kinds of sixths is not always the same. For example, the sixth C A is made up of a perfect fifth and a whole step.

major sixth
The sixth C A is made up of the perfect fifth C G and the whole step G A.

But, this isn’t the case with all of the sixths. For example, the sixth E C is made up of a perfect fifth and a half step.

minor sixth
The sixth E C is made up of the perfect fifth E B and the half step B C.

The sixth C A is greater than the sixth E C.
The sixth C A is called a major sixth and the sixth E C is called a minor sixth.
Also by ear, you can hear a difference between a major sixth and a minor sixth.

cd Major and minor sixth | Musictheory.educationThe major sixth C A

 

cd Major and minor sixth | Musictheory.educationThe minor sixth C Ab

 

Video

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Examples

Which tones do you get if you make sixths on the natural notes?

note example

piano example

2. Minor sixths

 

Video

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Examples

Which tones do you get if you make minor sixths on the natural notes?

note example

piano example

3. Major sixths

 

Video

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Examples

Which tones do you get if you make major sixths on the natural notes?

note example

piano example

4. Practise

Harmony exercise 4d: Practise recognizing major and minor sixths from musical notation.

Harmony exercise 4e: Practise making major and minor sixths on the natural notes.

Harmony exercise 4f: Practise making major and minor sixths on all notes.

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5. Ear training

 

Practise

Ear Training exercise 4g: practise distinguishing the difference between a major and minor sixth by ear.

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Example question

Which interval do you hear?

Choise 1: major sixth

Choise 2: minor sixth

 

Practical steps

Sing the interval being played to train your inner hearing abilties. Decide which interval is being played.

Answer: minor sixth.