TT

Tritone · 6 semitones

Tritone

Six semitones — exactly half an octave. The most dissonant interval, historically called 'diabolus in musica'. Symmetrical and unstable.

dissonant6 semitonesTT

How to Hear It

How to Identify It

Deeply unsettling and ambiguous — it wants to resolve desperately. Think of The Simpsons theme opening, or Maria from West Side Story (Ma-ri-a — the first two notes).

Famous Examples

  • The Simpsons theme — opening two notes
  • Maria (West Side Story) — first two notes (Ma-ri)
  • Black Sabbath — opening riff (tritone pedal point)
  • Purple Haze (Hendrix) — tritone in the guitar riff
Ready to test your ear?The recognition trainer plays random intervals — identify them by ear with instant feedback.
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Often Confused With

P4
Perfect 4th5 semitones
P5
Perfect 5th7 semitones

All Intervals

P1Unison0stm2Minor 2nd1stM2Major 2nd2stm3Minor 3rd3stM3Major 3rd4stP4Perfect 4th5stTTTritone6stP5Perfect 5th7stm6Minor 6th8stM6Major 6th9stm7Minor 7th10stM7Major 7th11stP8Octave12stm9Minor 9th13stM9Major 9th14st

About the Tritone

The Tritone (TT) is a dissonant interval spanning 6 semitones. Six semitones — exactly half an octave. The most dissonant interval, historically called 'diabolus in musica'. Symmetrical and unstable.

To train your ear to identify the tritone 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.