Minor sixth
The minor sixth spans 8 semitones and 6 steps (C–Ab). Inversion: major third. To remember it: »The Entertainer«, in the main theme the leap after the first three notes (E up to C).
- Semitones
- 8
- Steps
- 6
- Quality
- minor
- Inversion
- major 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: 8 frets higher on the same string.
How to count it
Counting 6 steps up from C — C, D, E, F, G, A — lands on Ab. The number of steps gives the name: a sixth. In between lie 8 semitones, and that makes it minor. With one semitone more it would be the major sixth.
Move the lower note up an octave and what remains is the major third: semitones add up to twelve, steps to nine.
Imperfect consonance — at rest, but with colour.
To remember it
»The Entertainer«, in the main theme the leap after the first three notes (E up to C).
Where it occurs
In the first inversion of a major triad (E–G–C) it lies between the lowest and the highest note.
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.