What is the minor sixth interval?
The minor sixth measures eight semitones from its root, landing one semitone below the major sixth. When you invert it, the interval flips into a major third—four semitones downward instead of eight upward. This mathematical relationship means that whenever you play a minor sixth ascending, you also hint at the bright character of a major third descending, creating a subtle harmonic duality that enriches voicings and melodies.
In practical terms, if you start on C and count up eight semitones, you arrive at A♭. That C to A♭ leap captures the essence of the minor sixth: warm enough to avoid harshness, yet shadowed enough to convey longing or nostalgia. Composers favor this interval when they want to blend consonance with a touch of wistfulness, making it a staple in romantic ballads and expressive jazz harmonies.
Theory at a glance
In tonal harmony the minor sixth often appears as the interval between the root and sixth degree of a natural minor scale. For example, in A minor the interval from A up to F forms a minor sixth that reinforces the scale's darker palette. Because the interval inverts to a major third, voice-leading techniques frequently pair these two sounds: a melody rising by minor sixth can resolve downward by major third, or vice versa, creating smooth contrary motion that satisfies the ear.
- Semitone distance: eight steps (0 → 8)
- Inversion: flips to a major third (four semitones)
- Scale context: appears as ♭6 in major keys, natural 6 in minor keys
- Harmonic role: adds depth to minor chords and enriches upper extensions in jazz
How it sounds
The minor sixth feels tender and slightly somber, striking a balance between the outright sadness of a minor third and the sweetness of a major sixth. Train your ear by singing the opening phrase of "The Entertainer" or the first two notes of "Love Story" by Taylor Swift, both of which leap up by minor sixth. Playing the interval melodically over a sustained root note helps you internalize its plaintive character, while blocking it harmonically reveals the warm, bittersweet quality that makes it perfect for romantic or reflective passages.
Where you'll hear it
Jazz pianists and arrangers insert the minor sixth into extended voicings—such as minor ninth or minor eleventh chords—to add color without clash. Film composers layer it over strings to evoke nostalgia or gentle heartache, and pop ballads often outline the interval in vocal melodies to underscore emotional vulnerability. You'll also find it anchoring progressions in Dorian mode, where the natural sixth degree paired with a minor third creates the mode's signature blend of minor tonality and modal brightness.
Practice ideas
Start by locating every minor sixth on the keyboard: pick a root note, count up eight semitones, and play the pair blocked and broken in both hands. Next, practice singing the interval against a drone or backing track, then resolve it downward by semitone to hear how it relaxes into a perfect fifth. Finally, improvise short phrases over a D Dorian vamp, deliberately emphasizing the sixth degree to feel how the minor sixth colors modal harmony and connects smoothly to surrounding chord tones.