Sixths · 8 semitones
Minor 6th
Eight semitones — somewhat melancholic and yearning. Less commonly heard in isolation but important in minor harmony and romantic melody.
How to Hear It
How to Identify It
A wider, sadder interval with a sense of longing. Think of the Theme from Love Story or the opening of The Entertainer by Joplin (ascending minor 6th).
Famous Examples
- Love Story theme — contains prominent minor 6th
- The Entertainer (Joplin) — ascending minor 6th in opening
- Go Down Moses — contains minor 6th leaps
Often Confused With
All Intervals
About the Minor 6th
The Minor 6th (m6) is a consonant interval spanning 8 semitones. Eight semitones — somewhat melancholic and yearning. Less commonly heard in isolation but important in minor harmony and romantic melody.
To train your ear to identify the minor 6th 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.