Major second: hear the whole step by ear
The major second is 2 semitones, a whole step. Play it, hear it in Happy Birthday and Frère Jacques, and train your ear to spot it.
A major second is 2 semitones, a whole step, such as C up to D. It is the step between most neighbouring notes of a scale, so it sounds like ordinary melody walking up or down: it is the step from the second to the third note of Happy Birthday.
Listen to a major second
C to D: 2 semitones.
What does a major second sound like?
Neutral and smooth, the plain "walking" step of a melody. Played together the two notes buzz gently: a soft dissonance, much milder than the minor second.
Songs that start with a major second
| Song | Direction | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Happy Birthday to You | Up | between the 2nd and 3rd notes |
| Frère Jacques | Up | the first two notes |
| Mary Had a Little Lamb | Down | the first two notes |
| Three Blind Mice | Down | the first two notes |
Titles only. Each melody's opening was checked note by note; songs we were not sure of are left out.
How do you recognise a major second by ear?
- Hum the start of a major scale, do to re: that is a major second.
- A minor second sounds squeezed; a minor third sounds like a small jump. The major second sits between: a step, not a jump.
- On a piano it skips exactly one key: C to D skips C sharp; E to F sharp skips F.
Quick test: major second or not?
Four sounds. Each one is a major second or one of the intervals people confuse it with. Listen, then pick.
Score: / 4 (your score updates as you answer)
The major second on every note
Intervals are spelled by letter: a major second always spans 2 letter names, which is why the top note is sometimes a sharp or a flat.
| From | Major second up | Hear it |
|---|---|---|
| C | D | |
| D♭ | E♭ | |
| D | E | |
| E♭ | F | |
| E | F♯ | |
| F | G | |
| F♯ | G♯ | |
| G | A | |
| A♭ | B♭ | |
| A | B | |
| B♭ | C | |
| B | C♯ |
Major second in numbers
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Semitones | 2 |
| Size on a piano (equal temperament) | 200 cents |
| Pure (just) ratio | 9:8 = 203.9 cents |
| Piano vs pure | -3.9 cents |
| Inversion | Minor seventh (10 semitones) |
Frequently asked questions
How many semitones are in a major second?
Two. A major second is one whole step, for example C to D, E to F sharp or B flat to C.
What is the difference between a whole step and a half step?
A half step (minor second) is 1 semitone, the next key on a piano. A whole step (major second) is 2 semitones, two keys away.
What is the inversion of a major second?
A minor seventh: C up to D is a major second, D up to the next C is a minor seventh (2 + 10 = 12 semitones).
Which songs start with a major second?
Frère Jacques starts with a rising major second; Mary Had a Little Lamb and Three Blind Mice start with a falling one.