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Interval: minor third
You sing a note, leap 3 semitones up and come back.
Root, minor third, root: a leap of three semitones and back, the final root held two beats. The minor third is one semitone narrower than the major third and gives music its darker, sadder quality. Learning to place it exactly, without letting it brighten, is what this three-note drill does. Sung on 'lah' at a slow tempo. Five repetitions, each a semitone higher.
How to do it
- Listen to the piano: root, minor third, root.
- Hear the slightly darker top note in your head, then sing on 'lah'.
- Watch the middle bar on the roll; it's three rows above the root, one below a major third.
- Five repetitions, each starting a semitone higher.
Coach's tip: Hear the second note in your head before you open your mouth.
What to watch out for
The ear pulls this interval upward toward the major third, so the middle note reads yellow on the high side. Sing it deliberately darker. Sliding from the root into the third is another common issue; think of the leap as a small jump. Check that both roots match; the second is often lazier and lower. Since the range is tiny, no strain is expected; if you get tired, it's from concentration, so rest.
Who it's for
For beginners and for intermediate singers working on minor-key material. Use it in the main block, right after Interval: major third so the contrast is fresh. Minor triad puts the same interval inside a chord. Not part of a preset program; take the Intervals category in order and come back to this one often.
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