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Interval

Minor 3rd
3 semitones.

A minor 3rd sounds dark and soft. The fastest way to recognize it is the opening of Greensleeves.

  • Play it on piano
  • m3 · 3 st
  • Same songs as the trainer

Minor 3rd

Hear the minor 3rd from middle C

The minor 3rd is 3 semitones (m3). From C4 at 261.63 Hz the upper note is D♯4 at 311.13 Hz, a frequency ratio of 1.1892.

Ascending hookGreensleeves
Descending hookHey Jude
Characterdark and soft

Sing the opening of Greensleeves and you are singing this interval upward. Downward, the hook is Hey Jude. 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

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

FAQ

Minor 3rd questions

How many semitones is a minor 3rd?

3. Stack them from any note and you land 3 keys away on the piano, counting only the destination.

What song starts with it?

Ascending: Greensleeves. Descending: Hey Jude.

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.