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Interval

Minor 6th
8 semitones.

A minor 6th sounds bittersweet. The fastest way to recognize it is the opening of The Entertainer.

  • Play it on piano
  • m6 · 8 st
  • Same songs as the trainer

Minor 6th

Hear the minor 6th from middle C

The minor 6th is 8 semitones (m6). From C4 at 261.63 Hz the upper note is G♯4 at 415.30 Hz, a frequency ratio of 1.5874.

Ascending hookThe Entertainer
Descending hook—
Characterbittersweet

Sing the opening of The Entertainer and you are singing this interval upward. The trainer does not assign a descending song for this one. The interval trainer uses these same hooks.

All twelve

StudioEars app icon
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

Perfect 5th One step smaller. Previous interval → Major 6th One step larger. Next interval → Interval trainer Name it from a random root. Train →

FAQ

Minor 6th questions

How many semitones is a minor 6th?

8. Stack them from any note and you land 8 keys away on the piano, counting only the destination.

What song starts with it?

Ascending: The Entertainer. The trainer does not assign a descending song for this one.

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.