Interval · 4 half steps
Major third
A major third is 4 half steps. From C, a major third up is E.
- Half steps
- 4
- Short name
- M3
- Guitar frets
- 4
How it sounds
The bottom of every major chord. Bright and open; it is the clearest single sign that a chord is major rather than minor.
Songs to remember it by
Hum the start of When the Saints Go Marching In or Kumbaya. The jump between the first two notes is a major third. Reference songs get you started; after a while you will hear the interval itself.
On the guitar
4 frets up on the same string, or on the next higher string, 1 fret back. With the lower note on the low E or A string in standard tuning; shapes that cross from the G string to the B string move up one fret.
A major third up from every note
| From | Up a major third | Hear it |
|---|---|---|
| C | E | |
| D♭ | F | |
| D | F♯ | |
| E♭ | G | |
| E | G♯ | |
| F | A | |
| F♯ | A♯ | |
| G | B | |
| A♭ | C | |
| A | C♯ | |
| B♭ | D | |
| B | D♯ |
Chords with a major third above the root
This interval is one of the answers in the game’s “How far apart?” round.