Minor second
The minor second spans 1 semitone and 2 steps (C–Db). Inversion: major seventh. To remember it: »Für Elise« or »Joy to the World«, the first two notes (downwards).
- Semitones
- 1
- Steps
- 2
- Quality
- minor
- Inversion
- major seventh
- Sound
- dissonance
In notation
First one after the other, then together — the distance as a step and as a sound.
On the keyboard
On the guitar: 1 fret higher on the same string.
How to count it
Counting 2 steps up from C — C, D — lands on Db. The number of steps gives the name: a second. In between lies 1 semitone, and that makes it minor. With one semitone more it would be the major second.
Move the lower note up an octave and what remains is the major seventh: semitones add up to twelve, steps to nine.
Dissonance — the sound wants to move on.
To remember it
»Für Elise« or »Joy to the World«, the first two notes (downwards); upwards »Ode to Joy«, the first two different notes.
Where it occurs
It does not occur in triads; in a melody it is the leading note pushing towards the tonic.
Related
In the glossary: second · 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.