Minor sixth
The musical interval of a minor sixth is the relationship between the first note (the root or tonic) and the sixth note in a minor scale. It is the inversion of the Major third.
It can be produced by starting on a high note and playing the sixth below or by starting on a low note and playing the sixth above.
A minor sixth in just intonation corresponds to a pitch ratio of 8:5 or 1:1.6 while in an equal tempered tuning, a minor sixth is equal to eight semitones, a ratio of 1:28/12 (approximately 1.587), or 800 cents, 13.686 cents smaller. The ratios of both Major and minor sixths are corresponding numbers of the fibonacci sequence, 5 and 8 for a minor third and 3 and 5 for a major.
In the common practice period sixths, along with their inverse, thirds, are considered the most interesting and dynamic consonances. The minor sixth is considered the most consonant interval after the unison, octave, perfect fifth, perfect fourth, Major third, and the Major sixth.
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Referenced By
List of musical topics
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