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Tutorials on all aspects of becoming an accomplished musician.

Minor 3rds Playing by Ear

Now we will learn to play Minor 3rds by ear on your instrument.

By itself, a minor 3rd typically has a somewhat sad sound.

Writing Minor 3rds

In this lesson you will see a Minor 3rd lit up on your instrument, then you will write in in music notation.

We know that a Minor 3rd is equivalent to a Whole Step + a Half Step.

Piano Minor 3rds

Minor 3rds


The next interval we will learn about is called a Minor 3rd.

As we learned in previous lessons, an interval is called "Minor" if it is one half step smaller than a Major interval.

Minor 3rds

In this lesson we will learn about Minor 3rds.

Before we do, however, we need to talk a little bit more and how scales and intervals are related.

Dictation – 2nds

Now you will listen to an interval, decide if it is a Major or Minor 2nd, then write it in music notation.

Please press the Exercise button below.

Playing by Ear – 2nds

Now you will listen to an interval, decide if it is a Major or Minor 2nd, then play it on your instrument.

Ear Training 2nds – Chord

Now you will learn to distinguish Minor and Major 2nds played as a chord.

Both these intervals are dissonant which means rough sounding, as we learned earlier.

A Minor 2nd is called a strong dissonance because it sounds very harsh.

However, a Major 2nd is called a weak dissonance because it sounds less harsh.

Ear Training 2nds – Down

Now you will learn to distinguish Minor and Major 2nds played down

Listen to the two examples here to familiarize yourself with the sound of each.