{"id":14036,"date":"2016-07-06T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-07-06T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hearandplay.com\/main\/?p=14036"},"modified":"2024-10-07T17:41:50","modified_gmt":"2024-10-08T01:41:50","slug":"the-power-of-third-intervals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hearplaymain.wpenginepowered.com\/the-power-of-third-intervals\/","title":{"rendered":"Have You Discovered The Power Of Third Intervals Yet?"},"content":{"rendered":"

This lesson is for anyone who is yet to discover the power of third intervals in music.<\/p>\n

There’s no better way to start this lesson than taking a look at third intervals. But before we do that, let’s take a look at the definition of the interval.<\/p>\n

A Short Note On Intervals<\/h2>\n

An interval is the relationship between two<\/strong> notes (whether played together or separately) in terms of the distance between them.<\/p>\n

I want to emphasize the part of the definition that says “relationship between two notes”<\/em> because it says a lot about the nature of intervals. Before we talk about “the relationship”, it is important that you note that it takes only two notes.<\/p>\n

It takes (the relationship between) two notes to form an interval. These are examples of intervals…<\/p>\n

C and Eb:
\n
\nA and F#:
\n
\nE and B:
\n
\n…and the list goes on and on.<\/p>\n

It practically takes any two notes to form an interval. However, the identity of the interval is tied to a scale relationship. If you don’t believe it, here’s the scale relationship between the notes of the intervals listed earlier:<\/p>\n

C and Eb:
\n
\n…the first and third tones of the C minor scale:
\n<\/p>\n

A and F#:
\n
\n…the first and sixth tones of the A major scale:
\n<\/p>\n

E and B:
\n
\n…the first and fifth tones of the E major scale:
\n<\/p>\n

That’s what you should know about intervals in this lesson. If you want to know more about intervals, follow the suggested reading below:<\/p>\n

Suggested Reading: Beyond Distance: The Second Dimension Of Intervals<\/a> and Exposed: Six Characteristic Features Of Intervals<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“What Are Third Intervals?”<\/em><\/h2>\n

The number of scale tones encompassed by an interval is described using ordinal numbers like first, second, third, fourth…ninth, tenth, etc. Third intervals are intervals that encompass three scale tones.<\/p>\n

“Check out these third intervals…”<\/em><\/p>\n

C and E:
\n
\n…encompassing the first three letter names of the C major scale:
\n
\n…from C to E:
\n
\nD and F:
\n
\n…encompassing the first three letter names of the D minor scale:
\n
\n…from D to F:
\n
\nG and B:
\n
\n…encompassing the first three letter names of the G major scale:
\n
\n…from G to B:
\n<\/p>\n

Qualities Of Third Intervals<\/h3>\n

The term third <\/em>does not state the exact size of an interval. For example, C-E:
\n
\n…and D-F:
\n
\n…are all third intervals, however, they have different sizes. C and E:
\n
\n…contains four half steps while D and F:
\n
\n…contains three half steps.<\/p>\n

Due to the fact that the use of the term “third” does not state the exact number of half steps a third interval contains, certain adjectives are used to describe and qualify various sizes of third intervals.<\/p>\n

“Check Out These Sizes Of Third Intervals…”<\/em><\/p>\n

#1 – The Diminished Third<\/strong><\/p>\n

The third interval with the smallest number of half steps is the diminished third interval and it contains two half steps. These intervals below…<\/p>\n

D# and F:
\n
\nE and Gb:
\n
\nA# and C:
\n
\nB and Db:
\n
\n…are diminished third intervals and encompass the distance of two half steps each.<\/p>\n

#2 – The Minor Third<\/strong><\/p>\n

The minor third interval is a product of the relationship between the first and third tones of the minor scale and encompasses a distance of three half steps. Here are some of them below…<\/p>\n

D and F:
\n
\nE and G:
\n
\nA and C:
\n
\nB and D:
\n
\n#3 – The Major Third<\/strong><\/p>\n

The relationship between the first and third tones of the major scale produces the major third interval. The major third interval encompasses a distance of three half steps. Check them out…<\/p>\n

D and F#:
\n
\nE and G#:
\n
\nA and C#:
\n
\nB and D#:
\n
\n#4 – The Augmented Third<\/strong><\/p>\n

The augmented third interval has the biggest width – encompassing five half steps. Below are a few examples…<\/p>\n

Db and F#:
\n
\nEb and G#:
\n
\nAb and C#:
\n
\nBb and D#:
\n
\n…are diminished third intervals and encompass the distance of two half steps each.<\/p>\n

“In a nutshell…”<\/em><\/p>\n

All third intervals are not equal. The intervals below…<\/p>\n