Introduction
A minor sixth is eight semitones — a wide, lyrical interval that inverts the major third. It carries an emotional weight that is hard to pin down: bittersweet, nostalgic, yearning. It is the interval at the heart of "Love Story" and the opening of "The Entertainer."
How to Find It on the Keyboard
Find any minor sixth in two simple steps. The number tells you the letter. The semitones tell you the accidental.
- Start on any root note. Count 6 letter names (including the root) up the musical alphabet — that gives you the top letter.
- Now count exactly 8 semitones from the root. If the natural top letter is too high or too low, sharpen or flatten it to land on the right pitch.
- Use the explorer above to check yourself in all 12 keys. The two highlighted notes are the m6 from that root.
Quick check: from C, the m6 lands on A♭. From G, it lands on E♭. From E♭, it lands on C♭.
Hear It — Song Associations for Ear Training
The fastest way to internalise the minor sixth is to associate it with a tune you already know. Sing the first two notes of any of these and you have the interval.
The Interval in Chords
Every chord is a stack of intervals. Here is where the minor sixth shows up in common harmony.
| Chord | Name | How m6 Appears |
|---|---|---|
| C+ | Augmented triad | C–E–G♯ — root and ♯5 form an augmented 5th, enharmonic with m6 |
| Cm6 | Minor 6th chord | Adds a major 6th to a minor triad — the inversion plays here |
| Inversions | Major triad in 1st inversion | C major in 1st inversion (E–G–C) puts a minor 6th between E and C |
Inversion: Flip It Upside Down
When you move the bottom note up an octave (or the top note down an octave), the interval inverts. Two simple rules govern interval inversions:
- Numbers sum to 9. A 2nd inverts to a 7th, a 3rd inverts to a 6th, a 4th inverts to a 5th, and so on (1 + 8 = 9 for unison/octave).
- Quality flips. Major ↔ minor, augmented ↔ diminished, perfect stays perfect.
Compound Form
A compound interval is the same interval with an extra octave added on top. The character stays the same but the two notes are spread further apart. The compound form of the minor sixth is the Minor Thirteenth (m13) — 20 semitones in total.
Why it matters: chord extensions like 9ths, 11ths, and 13ths are compound intervals stacked above the basic triad. Move it up an octave and you get a wider, more open sound — common in piano voicings and orchestral spacing.
Enharmonic Equivalents
Two intervals are enharmonic when they sound the same but are spelled differently. Same physical pitches, different musical meaning.
- Augmented Fifth (A5) — eight semitones, e.g. C–G♯ in an augmented triad
On the keyboard, an enharmonic pair sounds identical. On paper, the spelling tells you which scale or chord the note belongs to — and that changes how it functions in the music.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does a minor sixth sound bittersweet?
It is consonant enough to be stable but its 8:5 ratio is more complex than the bright 5:4 major third. The result is a wide, slightly melancholy character.
What is the inversion of a minor sixth?
A major third. m6 + M3 = 9, minor flips to major.
How is a minor sixth different from an augmented fifth?
They span the same eight semitones but are spelled differently. C–A♭ is a minor sixth (different letter); C–G♯ is an augmented fifth (next letter up from G).
How do I sing a minor sixth?
Anchor on "Where do I be-gin" from the Love Story theme — that ascending leap is a minor sixth.
Where does the minor sixth show up in scales?
In every natural minor scale, between the 1st and 6th degrees. It is one of the defining colors of minor tonality.