A · Worked example
Minor sixth
Sounding pitches: F4 · C#5
Listen for a leap wider than a perfect fifth. Minor and major sixths span eight and nine semitones.
F4 to C#5: 8 semitones, ascending. Minor sixth.
Listen, compare, then practise
A minor sixth spans eight semitones; a major sixth spans nine. Begin with ascending examples and then reverse their direction.
B · Compare the difference
Major sixth
Sounding pitches: F4 · D5
Compare the two sixths from their first notes. Hear the extra semitone without changing the interval number.
F4 to D5: 9 semitones, ascending. Major sixth.
For aural examples, sounding pitch names are a listening reference. Written-note exercises preserve the displayed spelling.
Check the idea: The minor sixth is the smaller of these two wide leaps.
1 · Guided practice
Place the leap between a fifth and an octave in your mind, then decide which sixth it resembles.
2 · Independent practice
Choose the sixth quality as roots and direction vary. Replay the current pair when the starting note fades.
3 · New-question check
Use the new questions to identify size without reproducing a previous example from memory.
Each session starts with two guided questions, then your chosen practice set, followed by two new questions at a different tempo. First answers, same-question retries, and the final check have separate results.
Begin this lessonChoose your practice
Beginner
90 quarter-note BPM · 4/4 · With guidance
Minor sixth ascending, Major sixth ascending
Practice this levelDeveloping
95 quarter-note BPM · 4/4 · Fewer hints
Minor sixth descending, Major sixth descending
Practice this levelChallenge
100 quarter-note BPM · 4/4 · Fewer hints
Minor sixth ascending, Major sixth ascending, Minor sixth descending, Major sixth descending
Practice this levelIf this feels difficult
- A sixth is mistaken for a fifth. Compare fourth/fifth spacing before adding the sixth. Fourth and Fifth
- Every wide leap sounds like an octave. Separate exact octave repetition from a smaller leap. Unison and Octave
Practice on paper or with a teacher
The teacher pack includes 10 fixed questions, replay controls, a student sheet, and a separate answer key. The printed key and downloaded JSON use the same questions.
Download an audio example
Original synthesized audio · A4 = 440 Hz · mono, 48 kHz WAV.
Related skills
Musical background
These references explain the underlying definitions. The examples and practice sequences here are generated for Earstep.