Major third
The major third spans 4 semitones and 3 steps (C–E). Inversion: minor sixth. To remember it: »Oh When the Saints«, the first two notes.
- Semitones
- 4
- Steps
- 3
- Quality
- major
- Inversion
- minor sixth
- 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: 4 frets higher on the same string.
How to count it
Counting 3 steps up from C — C, D, E — lands on E. The number of steps gives the name: a third. In between lie 4 semitones, and that makes it major. With one semitone less it would be the minor third.
Move the lower note up an octave and what remains is the minor sixth: semitones add up to twelve, steps to nine.
Imperfect consonance — at rest, but with colour.
To remember it
»Oh When the Saints«, the first two notes; »Holy, Holy, Holy«, the first two different notes.
Where it occurs
In these chords it lies between the root and another note: C, Caug, Cmaj7.
Related
In the glossary: third · 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.