Major sixth: hear it in My Bonnie and the NBC chimes
The major sixth is 9 semitones. Play it, recognise it from My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean and the NBC chimes, and compare it with the minor sixth.
A major sixth is 9 semitones, such as C up to A or G up to E. It is a wide, warm, open leap: the first jump of My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean and of the three-note NBC chimes is a rising major sixth.
Listen to a major sixth
G to E: 9 semitones.
What does a major sixth sound like?
Sweet, bright and spacious, like a major third turned inside out. Played together it sounds rich and consonant.
Songs that start with a major sixth
| Song | Direction | Where |
|---|---|---|
| My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean | Up | the first two notes |
| NBC chimes | Up | 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 sixth by ear?
- Low sol up to mi is a major sixth: the first two notes of the NBC chimes (G up to E).
- It is the upside-down minor third: A up to C is a minor third, C up to A is a major sixth.
- Bigger and brighter than the minor sixth, smaller and less tense than the minor seventh.
Quick test: major sixth or not?
Four sounds. Each one is a major sixth or one of the intervals people confuse it with. Listen, then pick.
Score: / 4 (your score updates as you answer)
The major sixth on every note
Intervals are spelled by letter: a major sixth always spans 6 letter names, which is why the top note is sometimes a sharp or a flat.
| From | Major sixth up | Hear it |
|---|---|---|
| C | A | |
| D♭ | B♭ | |
| D | B | |
| E♭ | C | |
| E | C♯ | |
| F | D | |
| F♯ | D♯ | |
| G | E | |
| A♭ | F | |
| A | F♯ | |
| B♭ | G | |
| B | G♯ |
Major sixth in numbers
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Semitones | 9 |
| Size on a piano (equal temperament) | 900 cents |
| Pure (just) ratio | 5:3 = 884.4 cents |
| Piano vs pure | +15.6 cents |
| Inversion | Minor third (3 semitones) |
Frequently asked questions
How many semitones are in a major sixth?
Nine. For example C to A, G to E, or D to B.
What is the inversion of a major sixth?
A minor third: C up to A is a major sixth, A up to the next C is a minor third (9 + 3 = 12 semitones).
What is the difference between a major and a minor sixth?
One semitone: a minor sixth is 8 semitones (C to A flat), a major sixth is 9 (C to A). The major sixth sounds brighter.
What song starts with a major sixth?
My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean and the NBC chimes both open with a rising major sixth.