major third

English

Noun

major third (plural major thirds)

1. (music) A musical interval in Western music that is equal to or approximates a frequency ratio of 5/4. In twelve-tone equal temperament, it consists of four standard semitones, spans three degrees of the diatonic scale, and is enharmonically equivalent to a diminished fourth. Major scales are so named because of the major third interval between the tonic and mediant of a major tonic triad.

Synonyms

• M3

Translations

interval of four semitones

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 大三度 (zh) (dàsāndù)

• Dutch: grote terts (nl) m or f
• Finnish: suuri terssi
• French: tierce majeure (fr) f
• German: große Terz f
• Greek: τρίτη μεγάλη f (tríti megáli)
• Hungarian: nagyterc (hu)
• Icelandic: stór þríund f
• Italian: terza maggiore f
• Japanese: 長三度 (ja) (chōsando)
• Polish: tercja wielka f
• Russian: больша́я те́рция f (bolʹšája tɛ́rcija)
• Swedish: stor ters c, durters c

See also

Related terms

• minor third
• diminished fourth
• perfect fifth
• tonic