The major second is the interval that occurs between the first and second degrees of a major scale, the tonic and the supertonic. On a musical keyboard, a major second is the interval between two keys separated by one key, counting white and black keys alike. On a guitar string, it is the interval separated by two frets. In moveable-do solfège, it is the interval between do and re. It is considered a melodic step, as opposed to larger intervals called skips.
Intervals composed of two semitones, such as the major second and the diminished third, are also called tones, whole tones, or whole steps.
In just intonation, major seconds can occur in at least two different frequency ratios: 9:8 (about 203.9 cents) and 10:9 (about 182.4 cents). The largest (9:8) ones are called major tones or greater tones, the smallest (10:9) are called minor tones or lesser tones. Their size differs by exactly one syntonic comma (81:80, or about 21.5 cents).
Some equal temperaments, such as 15-ET and 22-ET, also distinguish between a greater and a lesser tone.
The major second was historically considered one of the most dissonant intervals of the diatonic scale, although much 20th-century music saw it reimagined as a consonance. It is common in many different musical systems, including Arabic music, Turkish music and music of the Balkans, among others. It occurs in both diatonic and pentatonic scales.
. Here, middle C is followed by D, which is a tone 200 cents sharper than C, and then by both tones together.
Major and minor tones<!--Major tone & minor tone, etc. redirect directly here.-->
thumb|Origin of large and small seconds and thirds in harmonic series.|350x350px
thumb|Lesser tone on D. |175x175px
In tuning systems using just intonation, such as 5-limit tuning, in which major seconds occur in two different sizes, the wider of them is called a major tone or greater tone, and the narrower minor tone or, lesser tone. The difference in size between a major tone and a minor tone is equal to one syntonic comma (about 21.51 cents).
The major tone is the 9:8 interval , and it is an approximation thereof in other tuning systems, while the minor tone is the 10:9 ratio The 9:8 major tone arises in the C major scale between C and D, F and G, and A and B.
"[Epogdoos] is the 9:8 ratio that corresponds to the tone, [hêmiolios] is the 3:2 ratio that is associated with the musical fifth, and [epitritos] is the 4:3 ratio associated with the musical fourth. It is common to translate epogdoos as 'tone' [major second]."
Further reading
- Barker, Andrew (2007). The Science of Harmonics in Classical Greece. Cambridge University Press. .
- Plutarch (2005). Moralia. Translated by Frank Cole Babbitt. Kessinger Publishing. .
See also
- Diminished third
- List of meantone intervals
- Minor second
- Pythagorean interval
- Whole tone scale