BASIC MUSIC THEORY (from musicologize) 

PART 3 

What is major and minor? 

Breathe. 

The terms “major” and “minor” can be descriptors for notes, chords, scales, whole 
compositions (“First Piano Concerto in Bb Major”), and more. “Major” and “minor” 

are a significant pita that we will need to get through quickly to stay on track. So 
we’ll make it as crisp as we can. 

Firstly they describe interval sizes, and we will get a lot of mileage from just that. As 

we’ve said, intervals have number values, “thirds, sixths, etc.,” but beyond that, there 
are big and small versions of thirds, and big and small sixths, and so forth. (Yuck. I 

know.) Similarly to the way that sharps and flats tell us to raise or lower letter-named 
notes by one half-step, the terms “major” and “minor” describe intervals that are 

relatively larger or smaller to each other.  

Most of the time, we’re talking about the major or minor quality of thirds; “major 

thirds” vs “minor thirds.” Seriously, it’s like 80 to 90 Percent of the time. So let’s use 
thirds to illustrate… 

Five minutes ago we learned that the interval C to E is a third because, say it aloud 

with me, “C,” “D,” “E,” takes three fingers to count. And now we’ll add that it 

happens to be major third because E is four half-steps away from C. Four half steps 
away; that’s a major third. Three half steps away to Eb— that’d be a minor third. 
(“away from” is not an inclusive count like intervals were. If “C” or wherever you’re 
starting is your thumb, don’t count your thumb when you’re counting half steps.)