Third
An interval spanning three diatonic scale degrees
Category
intervals
Pronunciation
THURD
Origin
Old English
Length
79 words · 1 min read
About Third
Thirds come in two principal forms: major (four semitones) and minor (three semitones). They are the intervals that determine whether a chord sounds major or minor, making them arguably the most emotionally significant intervals in Western music.
More intervals terms
Perfect Fourth
View all intervalsterms →An interval spanning five semitones, historically treated as both consonant and dissonant depending on context.
Whole toneAn interval spanning two semitones, equivalent to a major second.
Major SixthAn interval spanning nine semitones, often described as warm, open, and gently uplifting.
Minor SecondAn interval spanning one semitone, the smallest step in standard Western music.
Minor SixthAn interval spanning eight semitones, with a bittersweet quality often used in expressive melodic writing.
v1 · 09/04/2026Browse all terms →