- Home
- All exercises
- Intervals
- Interval: major third
Interval: major third
You sing a note, leap 4 semitones up and come back.
Root, major third, root: a leap of four semitones up and back, with the root held two beats at the end. The major third is the note that makes a chord sound bright, so hearing and tuning it precisely pays off in every arpeggio and most melodies. Three notes at a slow tempo leave plenty of time to hear each one. Sung on 'lah'. Five repetitions, each a semitone higher.
How to do it
- Listen to the piano play the three notes: root, third, root.
- Imagine the third before you sing, then sing all three on 'lah'.
- On the roll, the middle bar sits four rows up; it should read green.
- Five passes, each a semitone higher.
Coach's tip: Hear the second note in your head before you open your mouth.
What to watch out for
The major third tends to come out flat, which makes it sound closer to a minor third and dulls the color. Think bright and aim slightly high. Scooping up into it from the root is common; leap, don't slide. Some singers land the return root too low because they relax. Keep both roots identical. This is a comfortable range, so any discomfort means the overall range setting needs lowering.
Who it's for
Beginners and intermediate singers who want to fix flat thirds in scales and chords. Use it in the main block before Major triad 1-3-5-3-1 or 5-note scale. Compare it directly with Interval: minor third to hear the difference one semitone makes. Listed in the Intonation program.
Part of programs: Intonation
Opens the app in your browser. Free, no account. Put on headphones first.