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Interval

Major 2nd
2 semitones.

A major 2nd sounds a mild, open rub. The fastest way to recognize it is the opening of Happy Birthday.

  • Play it on piano
  • M2 · 2 st
  • Same songs as the trainer

Major 2nd

Hear the major 2nd from middle C

The major 2nd is 2 semitones (M2). From C4 at 261.63 Hz the upper note is D4 at 293.66 Hz, a frequency ratio of 1.1225.

Ascending hookHappy Birthday
Descending hookMary Had a Little Lamb
Charactera mild, open rub

Sing the opening of Happy Birthday and you are singing this interval upward. Downward, the hook is Mary Had a Little Lamb. The interval trainer uses these same hooks.

All twelve

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StudioEarsEar training for iPhone & iPad

Recognize it without the song hint.

The app drills this interval against the ones you confuse it with, and keeps score across days.

Download on theApp Store

Free to start. 5 free training units every day plus built-in studio tools.

  • EQ & compressionDaily drills on drums, bass, guitars and full mixes.
  • Intervals & chordsPiano training that uses the same note names as these pages.
  • Studio toolsMetronome, tone generator and tap tempo live in the app too.

Explore the cluster

Minor 2nd One step smaller. Previous interval → Minor 3rd One step larger. Next interval → Interval trainer Name it from a random root. Train →

FAQ

Major 2nd questions

How many semitones is a major 2nd?

2. Stack them from any note and you land 2 keys away on the piano, counting only the destination.

What song starts with it?

Ascending: Happy Birthday. Descending: Mary Had a Little Lamb.

How do I practice it?

Play the buttons above, sing the hook, then do a round in the interval trainer with only this interval and its neighbors turned on.