Minor third - Definition and Overview

The musical interval of a minor third is the relationship between the first note (the root or tonic) and the third note in a minor scale. It is the inversion of the Major sixth. It can be produced by starting on a high note and playing the third below or by starting on a low note and playing the third above. It is abbreviated as m3.

A minor third in just intonation corresponds to a pitch ratio of 6:5 (or 1:1.2). while in an equal tempered tuning, a minor third is equal to three semitones, a ratio of 1:2^3/12 (approximately 1:1.189), or 300 cents, 15.641 cents smaller.

The minor third is considered the most consonant interval after the unison, octave, perfect fifth, perfect fourth, major third, and minor sixth.

See also:

• musical tuning
• semiditono

External links

• Tonalsoft Encyclopaedia of Tuning (http://tonalsoft.com/enc/index2.htm?minor-3rd.htm)

Example Usage of Minor