Thirds · 4 semitones
Major 3rd
Four semitones — the defining interval of the major chord. Bright, stable, and warm. The most characteristic consonant interval.
How to Hear It
How to Identify It
Bright and happy compared to a minor 3rd. Think of When the Saints Go Marching In — the first leap is a major 3rd. Or the beginning of Oh! Susanna.
Famous Examples
- When the Saints Go Marching In — first leap upward
- Oh! Susanna — opening interval
- Kumbaya — first two notes
- Morning Has Broken (Cat Stevens) — opening
Often Confused With
All Intervals
About the Major 3rd
The Major 3rd (M3) is a consonant interval spanning 4 semitones. Four semitones — the defining interval of the major chord. Bright, stable, and warm. The most characteristic consonant interval.
To train your ear to identify the major 3rd reliably, practice hearing it in all three modes — ascending, descending, and harmonic. The ascending version is most commonly tested, but recognising it in all contexts is the mark of a trained ear. Use the trainer above to test yourself in a mixed set of all intervals.