Minor third: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

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 1:12. while in an equal tempered tuning, a minor third is equal to three semitones, a ratio of 1:2^3/12 (approximately 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