Major third

This article is about the musical interval. For the guitar tuning, see major thirds tuning.

Major third

Inverse	Minor sixth
Name
Other names	-
Abbreviation	M3
Size
Semitones	4
Interval class	4
Just interval	5:4
Cents
Equal temperament	400
24 equal temperament	400
Just intonation	386

Just major third.

Pythagorean major third.

File:Comparison of major thirds.png

Comparison, in cents, of intervals at or near a major third

In classical music from Western culture, a third is a musical interval encompassing three staff positions (see Interval number for more details), and the major third (<phonos file="Major third on C.mid">Play</phonos>) is a third spanning four semitones. Along with the minor third, the major third is one of two commonly occurring thirds. It is qualified as major because it is the larger of the two: the major third spans four semitones, the minor third three. For example, the interval from C to E is a major third, as the note E lies four semitones above C, and there are three staff positions from C to E. Diminished and augmented thirds span the same number of staff positions, but consist of a different number of semitones (two and five).

The major third may be derived from the harmonic series as the interval between the fourth and fifth harmonics. The major scale is so named because of the presence of this interval between its tonic and mediant (1st and 3rd) scale degrees. The major chord also takes its name from the presence of this interval built on the chord's root (provided that the interval of a perfect fifth from the root is also present or implied).

A major third in just intonation corresponds to a pitch ratio of 5:4 (<phonos file="Just major third on C.mid">play</phonos>) (fifth harmonic in relation to the fourth) or 386.31 cents; in equal temperament, a major third is equal to four semitones, a ratio of 2^1/3:1 (about 1.2599) or 400 cents, 13.69 cents wider than the 5:4 ratio. The older concept of a ditone (two 9:8 major seconds) made a dissonantly wide major third with the ratio 81:64 (<phonos file="Pythagorean major third on C.mid">play</phonos>). The septimal major third is 9:7, the undecimal major third is 14:11, and the tridecimal major third is 13:10.

A helpful way to recognize a major third is to hum the first two notes of "Kumbaya" or of "When the Saints Go Marching In". A descending major third is heard at the starts of "Goodnight, Ladies" and "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot".

In equal temperament three major thirds in a row are equal to an octave (for example, A♭ to C, C to E, and E to G♯; G♯ and A♭ represent the same note). This is sometimes called the "circle of thirds". In just intonation, however, three 5:4 major thirds are less than an octave. For example, three 5:4 major thirds from C is B♯ (C to E to G♯ to B♯). The difference between this just-tuned B♯ and C, like that between G♯ and A♭, is called a diesis, about 41 cents.

The major third is classed as an imperfect consonance and is considered one of the most consonant intervals after the unison, octave, perfect fifth, and perfect fourth. In the common practice period, thirds were considered interesting and dynamic consonances along with their inverses the sixths, but in medieval times they were considered dissonances unusable in a stable final sonority.

A diminished fourth is enharmonically equivalent to a major third (that is, it spans the same number of semitones). For example, B–D♯ is a major third; but if the same pitches are spelled B and E♭, the interval is instead a diminished fourth. B–E♭ occurs in the C harmonic minor scale.

The major third is used in guitar tunings. For the standard tuning, only the interval between the 3rd and 2nd strings (G to B, respectively) is a major third; each of the intervals between the other pairs of consecutive strings is a perfect fourth. In an alternative tuning, the major-thirds tuning, each of the intervals are major thirds.

See also

• Decade (log scale), compound just major third
• Ear training
• List of meantone intervals
• Musical tuning