Minor third
A minor third is 3 half steps: from C up to E♭. Darker and softer than a major third: the interval at the bottom of a minor chord, often heard as sad.
The minor third at a glance
| Minor third | |
|---|---|
| Half steps | 3 (one and a half whole steps) |
| Letters it spans | 3: C D E |
| Short name | m3 |
| Inverts to | Major sixth |
| Frequency ratio | 1.189 on a piano, 6:5 in just intonation |
Every note’s frequency in hertz is on the note frequency chart.
Songs that start with a minor third
Going up: "Greensleeves" ("A-las") and the riff of "Smoke on the Water", its first two notes.
Going down: "Hey Jude", on "Hey Jude".
Sing the tune’s first notes in your head and you have the interval from any starting note.
The minor third in chords
The bottom of a minor chord (A to C in A minor) and the top of a major chord (E to G in C major).
Every chord’s notes, to hear on a keyboard, are on piano chords.
A minor third from every note
| From | Up a minor third |
|---|---|
| C | E♭ |
| C♯ | E |
| D | F |
| E♭ | G♭ |
| E | G |
| F | A♭ |
| F♯ | A |
| G | B♭ |
| G♯ | B |
| A | C |
| B♭ | D♭ |
| B | D |
Questions about the minor third
What is a minor third in music?
A minor third is 3 half steps: from C up to E♭. Darker and softer than a major third: the interval at the bottom of a minor chord, often heard as sad.
How many half steps is a minor third?
Three, such as A to C or E to G. It is a half step smaller than a major third.
What songs start with a minor third?
"Greensleeves" ("A-las") and the riff of "Smoke on the Water", its first two notes. Going down: "Hey Jude", on "Hey Jude".
What is the inversion of a minor third?
A major sixth. Move the lower note up an octave and a minor third becomes a major sixth: their half steps add up to twelve.
Other intervals
All of them side by side, with how to name one, are on the interval chart.
Put intervals in a song
Open the free editor with a beat playing, then draw a melody note by note in the piano roll and hear every leap. No account needed to start.
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