Minor third: hear it and tell it from a major third
The minor third is 3 semitones, the sad-sounding third. Play it, hear it in Greensleeves and Smoke on the Water, and compare it with the major third.
A minor third is 3 semitones, such as A up to C or C up to E flat. It is the interval that makes a minor chord sound minor: darker and more wistful than the major third (4 semitones). Greensleeves opens with a rising minor third.
Listen to a minor third
A to C: 3 semitones.
What does a minor third sound like?
Small, soft and a little sad. Played together it sounds sweet but darker than a major third; it is the bottom of every minor chord.
Songs that start with a minor third
| Song | Direction | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Greensleeves | Up | the first two notes |
| Smoke on the Water (Deep Purple) | Up | the first two notes of the riff |
| Hey Jude (The Beatles) | Down | the first two notes |
| The Star-Spangled Banner | 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 third by ear?
- Sing a playground taunt ("na-na"): the falling call is usually a minor third.
- Compare it with the major third: the major third sounds brighter and slightly wider. If you hesitate, think major chord versus minor chord.
- A minor third is a whole step plus a half step: 1.5 tones.
Quick test: minor third or not?
Four sounds. Each one is a minor third or one of the intervals people confuse it with. Listen, then pick.
Score: / 4 (your score updates as you answer)
The minor third on every note
Intervals are spelled by letter: a minor third always spans 3 letter names, which is why the top note is sometimes a sharp or a flat.
| From | Minor 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 |
Minor third in numbers
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Semitones | 3 |
| Size on a piano (equal temperament) | 300 cents |
| Pure (just) ratio | 6:5 = 315.6 cents |
| Piano vs pure | -15.6 cents |
| Inversion | Major sixth (9 semitones) |
Frequently asked questions
How many semitones are in a minor third?
Three. For example A to C, C to E flat, or E to G.
What is the difference between a minor third and a major third?
One semitone. A minor third is 3 semitones (C to E flat), a major third is 4 (C to E). The minor third sounds darker; it is what makes a minor chord minor.
What is the inversion of a minor third?
A major sixth: A up to C is a minor third, C up to the next A is a major sixth (3 + 9 = 12 semitones).
What song starts with a minor third?
Greensleeves and the Smoke on the Water riff start with a rising minor third; Hey Jude and The Star-Spangled Banner start with a falling one.