Major 3rd

General info

Name

Major 3rd

Quality

Major

Degree distance

3 degrees

Semitones

4

Short description

Four semitones. Defines the major character — bright, stable sound.

Interval structure

Lower note

Root

Upper note

Major third (3)

Degree formula

II4 stIIIIII

Semitone formula

4 semitones (2 whole tones)

Interval construction

Interval formula

M3

How it's built

From the root, move up by four semitones (two whole tones, four frets on guitar).

Brief explanation

The major 3rd defines the major character. It is a "warm," "sunny" interval, the foundation of all major chords and keys.

How the interval sounds

Sound character

The major 3rd sounds bright, joyful, and confident. It creates a sense of positivity and openness. A melodic leap of a major 3rd gives melody energy and lift. In a chord, the major 3rd is the main "voice" defining the major character. The sound is warm, clear, and affirmative.

Consonance / dissonance

Explanation

The major 3rd is an imperfect consonance. Like the minor 3rd, it blends well with the root, creating a stable and pleasant combination. The 5:4 frequency ratio makes it one of the "purest" intervals after the 5th and octave.

Tendencies & resolutions

Behavior

The major 3rd is a stable consonance that does not require mandatory resolution. It defines the major character and can sound freely in a chord. In melody, the major 3rd often resolves by stepwise motion or serves as a pivot point of a phrase.

Harmonic context

Context

The major 3rd is the interval between degrees I and III of a major triad. It appears in maj, 7, maj7, aug, and aug7 chords. Two consecutive major 3rds form an augmented triad. In major scales (Ionian, Lydian, Mixolydian), the major 3rd creates the characteristic "bright" color.

Interval inversion

Interval from every note