Major sixth
The major sixth spans 9 semitones and 6 steps (C–A). Inversion: minor third. To remember it: »My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean«, the first two notes.
- Semitones
- 9
- Steps
- 6
- Quality
- major
- Inversion
- minor third
- Sound
- imperfect consonance
In notation
First one after the other, then together — the distance as a step and as a sound.
On the keyboard
On the guitar: 9 frets higher on the same string.
How to count it
Counting 6 steps up from C — C, D, E, F, G, A — lands on A. The number of steps gives the name: a sixth. In between lie 9 semitones, and that makes it major. With one semitone less it would be the minor sixth.
Move the lower note up an octave and what remains is the minor third: semitones add up to twelve, steps to nine.
Imperfect consonance — at rest, but with colour.
To remember it
»My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean«, the first two notes.
Where it occurs
In these chords it lies between the root and another note: C6, Cm6.
Related
In the glossary: sixth · Ear training: hear intervals and guess them · All intervals
Anotona does this for you
Photograph a page of sheet music or play the melody — Anotona finds the key, engraves the notes and transposes them into any other. Free.
See AnotonaEvery note on this page is computed, not typed in — following the rule that also makes F# major spell its seventh degree E#, not F.