Major and minor tones Major second

origin of large , small seconds , thirds in harmonic series.



lesser tone on d.  play (help·info)

in tuning systems using intonation, such 5-limit tuning, in major seconds occur in 2 different sizes, wider of them called major tone or greater tone, , narrower minor tone or, lesser tone. difference in size between major tone , minor tone equal 1 syntonic comma (about 21.51 cents).

the major tone 9:8 interval  play (help·info), , approximation thereof in other tuning systems, while minor tone 10:9 ratio  play (help·info). major tone may derived harmonic series interval between eighth , ninth harmonics. minor tone may derived harmonic series interval between ninth , tenth harmonics. 10:9 minor tone arises in c major scale between d , e , g , a, , sharper dissonance 9:8. 9:8 major tone arises in c major scale between c & d, f & g, , & b. 9:8 interval named epogdoon (meaning 1 eighth in addition ) pythagoreans.

notice in these tuning systems, third kind of whole tone, wider major tone, exists. interval of 2 semitones, ratio 256:225, called diminished third (for further details, see five-limit tuning#size of intervals).

comparison, in cents, of intervals @ or near major second

some equal temperaments produce major seconds of 2 different sizes, called greater , lesser tones (or major , minor tones). instance, true 15-et, 22-et, 34-et, 41-et, 53-et, , 72-et. conversely, in twelve-tone equal temperament, pythagorean tuning, , meantone temperament (including 19-et , 31-et) major seconds have same size, there cannot distinction between greater , lesser tone.

in system there 1 size of major second, terms greater , lesser tone (or major , minor tone) used different meaning. namely, used indicate 2 distinct kinds of whole tone, more commonly , more appropriately called major second (m2) , diminished third (d3). similarly, major semitones , minor semitones more , more appropriately referred minor seconds (m2) , augmented unisons (a2), or diatonic , chromatic semitones.

unlike uses of terms major , minor, these intervals span same number of semitones. both span 2 semitones, while, example, major third (4 semitones) , minor third (3 semitones) differ 1 semitone. thus, avoid ambiguity, preferable call them greater tone , lesser tone (see greater , lesser diesis).

two major tones equal ditone.