Major third
Encyclopedia
In classical music
from Western culture
, a third is a musical interval encompassing three staff positions (see Interval (music)#Number for more details), and the major third is one of two commonly occurring thirds. It is qualified as major because it is the largest 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 third
s 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 (fifth harmonic in relation to the fourth) or 386.31 cents; in equal temperament
, a major third is equal to four semitone
s, a ratio of 21/3:1 (about 1.2599) or 400 cents, 13.69 cent
s 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 .
In equal temperament three major thirds in a row are equal to an octave (for example, C to E, E to G/A, and G/A to C). 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, called a diesis
, is 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. It is worth noting that in the standard tuning of a six string guitar, the interval between the 3rd and 2nd strings (G to B, respectively) is a major third, while the intervals between all other adjacent strings are a perfect fourth
.
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
from Western culture
Western culture
Western culture, sometimes equated with Western civilization or European civilization, refers to cultures of European origin and is used very broadly to refer to a heritage of social norms, ethical values, traditional customs, religious beliefs, political systems, and specific artifacts and...
, a third is a musical interval encompassing three staff positions (see Interval (music)#Number for more details), and the major third is one of two commonly occurring thirds. It is qualified as major because it is the largest 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
Diminished third
In classical music from Western culture, a diminished third is the musical interval produced by narrowing a minor third by a chromatic semitone. For instance, the interval from A to C is a minor third, three semitones wide, and both the intervals from A to C, and from A to C are diminished thirds,...
and augmented third
Augmented third
In classical music from Western culture, an augmented third is an interval produced by widening a major third by a chromatic semitone. For instance, the interval from C to E is a major third, four semitones wide, and both the intervals from C to E, and from C to E are augmented thirds, spanning...
s 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
Harmonic series (music)
Pitched musical instruments are often based on an approximate harmonic oscillator such as a string or a column of air, which oscillates at numerous frequencies simultaneously. At these resonant frequencies, waves travel in both directions along the string or air column, reinforcing and canceling...
as the interval between the fourth and fifth harmonics.
The major scale
Major scale
In music theory, the major scale or Ionian scale is one of the diatonic scales. It is made up of seven distinct notes, plus an eighth which duplicates the first an octave higher. In solfege these notes correspond to the syllables "Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti/Si, ", the "Do" in the parenthesis at...
is so named because of the presence of this interval between its tonic
Tonic (music)
In music, the tonic is the first scale degree of the diatonic scale and the tonal center or final resolution tone. The triad formed on the tonic note, the tonic chord, is thus the most significant chord...
and mediant
Mediant
In music, the mediant is the third scale degree of the diatonic scale, being the note halfway between the tonic and the dominant. Similarly, the submediant is halfway between the tonic and subdominant...
(1st and 3rd) scale degrees.
The major chord
Major chord
In music theory, a major chord is a chord having a root, a major third, and a perfect fifth. When a chord has these three notes alone, it is called a major triad...
also takes its name from the presence of this interval built on the chord's root
Root (chord)
In music theory, the root of a chord is the note or pitch upon which a triadic chord is built. For example, the root of the major triad C-E-G is C....
(provided that the interval of a perfect fifth
Perfect fifth
In classical music from Western culture, a fifth is a musical interval encompassing five staff positions , and the perfect fifth is a fifth spanning seven semitones, or in meantone, four diatonic semitones and three chromatic semitones...
from the root is also present or implied).
A major third in just intonation
Just intonation
In music, just intonation is any musical tuning in which the frequencies of notes are related by ratios of small whole numbers. Any interval tuned in this way is called a just interval. The two notes in any just interval are members of the same harmonic series...
corresponds to a pitch ratio of 5:4 (fifth harmonic in relation to the fourth) or 386.31 cents; in equal temperament
Equal temperament
An equal temperament is a musical temperament, or a system of tuning, in which every pair of adjacent notes has an identical frequency ratio. As pitch is perceived roughly as the logarithm of frequency, this means that the perceived "distance" from every note to its nearest neighbor is the same for...
, a major third is equal to four semitone
Semitone
A semitone, also called a half step or a half tone, is the smallest musical interval commonly used in Western tonal music, and it is considered the most dissonant when sounded harmonically....
s, a ratio of 21/3:1 (about 1.2599) or 400 cents, 13.69 cent
Cent (music)
The cent is a logarithmic unit of measure used for musical intervals. Twelve-tone equal temperament divides the octave into 12 semitones of 100 cents each...
s wider than the 5:4 ratio. The older concept of a ditone
Ditone
In music, a ditone is the interval 81:64, which is 407.82 cents. It is the major third in Pythagorean tuning. The ditone is evenly divisible by two major tones and is wider than a just major third by a syntonic comma...
(two 9:8 major seconds) made a dissonantly wide major third with the ratio 81:64 .
In equal temperament three major thirds in a row are equal to an octave (for example, C to E, E to G/A, and G/A to C). 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, called a diesis
Diesis
In classical music from Western culture, a diesis is either an accidental , or a comma type of musical interval, usually defined as the difference between an octave and three justly tuned major thirds , equal to 128:125 or about 41.06 cents...
, is about 41 cents.
The major third is classed as an imperfect consonance
Consonance and dissonance
In music, a consonance is a harmony, chord, or interval considered stable, as opposed to a dissonance , which is considered to be unstable...
and is considered one of the most consonant intervals after the unison
Unison
In music, the word unison can be applied in more than one way. In general terms, it may refer to two notes sounding the same pitch, often but not always at the same time; or to the same musical voice being sounded by several voices or instruments together, either at the same pitch or at a distance...
, octave
Octave
In music, an octave is the interval between one musical pitch and another with half or double its frequency. The octave relationship is a natural phenomenon that has been referred to as the "basic miracle of music", the use of which is "common in most musical systems"...
, perfect fifth
Perfect fifth
In classical music from Western culture, a fifth is a musical interval encompassing five staff positions , and the perfect fifth is a fifth spanning seven semitones, or in meantone, four diatonic semitones and three chromatic semitones...
, and perfect fourth
Perfect fourth
In classical music from Western culture, a fourth is a musical interval encompassing four staff positions , and the perfect fourth is a fourth spanning five semitones. For example, the ascending interval from C to the next F is a perfect fourth, as the note F lies five semitones above C, and there...
. In the common practice period
Common practice period
The common practice period, in the history of Western art music , spanning the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic periods, lasted from c. 1600 to c. 1900.-General characteristics:...
, thirds were considered interesting and dynamic consonances along with their inverses the sixths, but in medieval times
Medieval music
Medieval music is Western music written during the Middle Ages. This era begins with the fall of the Roman Empire and ends sometime in the early fifteenth century...
they were considered dissonances unusable in a stable final sonority.
A diminished fourth
Diminished fourth
In classical music from Western culture, a diminished fourth is an interval produced by narrowing a perfect fourth by a chromatic semitone. For example, the interval from C to F is a perfect fourth, five semitones wide, and both the intervals from C to F, and from C to F are diminished fourths,...
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. It is worth noting that in the standard tuning of a six string guitar, the interval between the 3rd and 2nd strings (G to B, respectively) is a major third, while the intervals between all other adjacent strings are a perfect fourth
Perfect fourth
In classical music from Western culture, a fourth is a musical interval encompassing four staff positions , and the perfect fourth is a fourth spanning five semitones. For example, the ascending interval from C to the next F is a perfect fourth, as the note F lies five semitones above C, and there...
.