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Interval Identification | Interval Of A Sixth (6 of 10)

Similar to an interval of a second and an interval of a third, an interval of a sixth can also be either Major or minor.

Minor Sixth Intervals

An interval of a minor sixth occurs when two notes are separated by the distance of eight consecutive half steps.

Remembering that two half steps equals one whole step, eight half steps can also be looked at as being comparatively the same as three whole steps and two half steps.

Using this pattern of steps, let's figure out what an interval of a minor sixth above the note A is.

WholeStep_AB.png

One whole step above the note A is the note B.

WholeStep_DE.png

Another whole step above the note D is the note E.

HalfStep_BC.png

A half step above B is the note C.

HalfStep_EF.png

And finally, a half step above E is the note F.

WholeStep_CD.png

The notes C and D are separated by a whole step.

MinorSixth_AF.png