Major sixth
Nine semitones. Wide and singing, often used in song openings. It is often confused with the minor sixth and the minor seventh.
9 semitones Symbol M6 Imperfect consonance
Listen
See
C A
E
B M6
G
D 0
A
E
0 1234567
C → A
Where you have heard it
Ascending
My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean the first two notes
NBC chimes first leap
Descending
Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen opening
Over There opening
What it gets confused with
Frequently asked
How many semitones is a major sixth?
Nine, for example between C and A.
How do I recognise it by ear?
It opens "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean" and is the first leap of the NBC chimes — wide, open and bright.
What is its inversion?
The minor third. The two are the same pair of notes, one octave apart in reading.
There is an exercise track dedicated to recognising this by ear.
Train this