Hearing and Singing Sixths

Review

This lesson assumes that you are already familiar with Sixths. If you have logged in and been following the lessons and practice apps in order you should already be familiar with them.

If not, you can learn about Sixths by going to The Sixth.

You will also need to be able to sing

Sixths

Hearing

When identifying and singing Sixths by ear, we will not include Augmented 6ths because they will sound identical to a minor 7th. We will also not include Diminished 6ths because they will sound identical to a perfect 5th

Singing

When singing melodies it may be helpful to know that Minor 6ths occur in 3 places. They occur between:

Major 6ths occur in 4 places. They are between:

Also keep in mind that intervals larger than a 5th are difficult for many people to sing accurately, so it may take some practice to be able to sing them correctly.

Inverting the Interval

Some people find it easier to invert the interval in their mind by moving the top note down an octave or the bottom note up an octave. This will create a 3rd. Remember that a minor 6th will invert to a major 3rd and a major 6th will invert to a minor 3rd.

The following chart has some pointers to help you hear and sing sixths. Some people find it easier to associate an interval with a song. There are a few examples listed in the chart, but you can find many more by searching online for 'Songs that begin with a [insert interval here]'.

Interval
Melodic Sound
Harmonic Sound
Music that begins with a this interval
Minor 6th (m6)
Because of the large leap it tends to be followed by motion in the opposite direction of the leap. It sounds like the outer notes of an inverted triad.
Stable interval. It sounds like an inverted triad with the inner voice missing. It sounds slightly less stable or bright than the major 6th.
The Entertainer (3rd and 4th notes), Chopin Waltz in C# Major
Major 6th (M6)
Because of the large leap it tends to be followed by motion in the opposite direction of the leap. It sounds like the outer notes of an inverted triad.
Stable interval. It sounds like an inverted triad with the inner voice missing. It sounds a little brighter than the minor 6th.
Theme for NBC, Hush Little Baby, My Bonny Lies Over the Ocean, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, For He's a Jolly Good Fellow

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