Minor second: hear the half step and recognise it
Play the minor second (1 semitone, a half step) up, down and together, hear it in Jaws and Für Elise, then test yourself.
A minor second is the smallest interval in Western music: 1 semitone, also called a half step, such as E up to F or C up to D flat. Played one after the other it sounds tense and creeping (the shark motif of Jaws); played together it clashes.
Listen to a minor second
E to F: 1 semitone.
What does a minor second sound like?
Tight and tense. Melodically it is the smooth step a leading note takes into the tonic (B to C in C major); harmonically the two notes rub against each other and "beat", the harshest dissonance of all intervals.
Songs that start with a minor second
| Song | Direction | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Jaws (Main Title) | Up | the two alternating notes of the shark motif |
| Für Elise (Beethoven) | 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 minor second by ear?
- If the two notes feel almost like one note sliding, it is a minor second; a major second has a clear gap.
- On a piano it is two neighbouring keys, black or white: E to F and B to C are the only white-key half steps.
- Played together it sounds like a crunch. No other interval clashes as much.
Quick test: minor second or not?
Four sounds. Each one is a minor second or one of the intervals people confuse it with. Listen, then pick.
Score: / 4 (your score updates as you answer)
The minor second on every note
Intervals are spelled by letter: a minor second always spans 2 letter names, which is why the top note is sometimes a sharp or a flat.
| From | Minor 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 |
Minor second in numbers
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Semitones | 1 |
| Size on a piano (equal temperament) | 100 cents |
| Pure (just) ratio | 16:15 = 111.7 cents |
| Piano vs pure | -11.7 cents |
| Inversion | Major seventh (11 semitones) |
Frequently asked questions
How many semitones are in a minor second?
One. A minor second is a half step: the distance between any key on a piano and the very next key, black or white.
Is a minor second the same as a half step?
Yes, in practice. A minor second spans two different letter names (E to F, C to D flat). C to C sharp is also one semitone but is called an augmented unison, because the letter stays the same.
What is the inversion of a minor second?
A major seventh: E up to F is a minor second, F up to the next E is a major seventh (1 + 11 = 12 semitones).
What song starts with a minor second?
The shark motif of Jaws alternates two notes a minor second apart (going up), and Für Elise opens with a descending minor second.