Major third: hear it and recognise it by ear
The major third is 4 semitones, the bright interval of every major chord. Play it, hear it in When the Saints Go Marching In, and train it.
A major third is 4 semitones, such as C up to E. It is the interval that makes a major chord sound major: bright, warm and settled. When the Saints Go Marching In opens with a rising major third, and Beethoven's Fifth Symphony with a falling one.
Listen to a major third
C to E: 4 semitones.
What does a major third sound like?
Bright and sunny. Played together, the two notes give the "happy" colour of a major chord. Melodically it is the jump from do to mi.
Songs that start with a major third
| Song | Direction | Where |
|---|---|---|
| When the Saints Go Marching In | Up | the first two notes |
| Kumbaya | Up | the first two notes |
| Swing Low, Sweet Chariot | Down | the first two notes |
| Symphony No. 5 (Beethoven) | Down | from the repeated note to the long fourth note |
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 third by ear?
- Sing do, re, mi: the distance from do to mi is a major third.
- Wider and brighter than the minor third (3 semitones), narrower and less open than the perfect fourth (5).
- Two whole steps stacked: C to D to E.
Quick test: major third or not?
Four sounds. Each one is a major third or one of the intervals people confuse it with. Listen, then pick.
Score: / 4 (your score updates as you answer)
The major third on every note
Intervals are spelled by letter: a major third always spans 3 letter names, which is why the top note is sometimes a sharp or a flat.
| From | Major third up | Hear it |
|---|---|---|
| C | E | |
| D♭ | F | |
| D | F♯ | |
| E♭ | G | |
| E | G♯ | |
| F | A | |
| F♯ | A♯ | |
| G | B | |
| A♭ | C | |
| A | C♯ | |
| B♭ | D | |
| B | D♯ |
Major third in numbers
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Semitones | 4 |
| Size on a piano (equal temperament) | 400 cents |
| Pure (just) ratio | 5:4 = 386.3 cents |
| Piano vs pure | +13.7 cents |
| Inversion | Minor sixth (8 semitones) |
Frequently asked questions
How many semitones are in a major third?
Four. Two whole steps: C to E, F to A, G to B, or E to G sharp.
What is a major third above E?
G sharp, not A flat: a third always spans three letter names (E, F, G), so E to G sharp is the correct spelling.
What is the inversion of a major third?
A minor sixth: C up to E is a major third, E up to the next C is a minor sixth (4 + 8 = 12 semitones).
Why does a major third sound happy?
It is the defining interval of the major chord, and the notes vibrate close to a simple 5:4 ratio. On a piano the equal-tempered major third is 400 cents, about 14 cents wider than the pure 5:4 third, which is why it sounds a little brighter than a choir's.