This lesson assumes that you are already familiar with thirds. 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 Thirds by going to Major Intervals.
It is also important to be able to hear and sing Unison and Seconds before you start this lesson: How to Hear Unisons and Seconds.
When identifying and singing Thirds by ear, we will not include diminished 3rds because they will sound identical to a major 2nd. We will also not include augmented 3rds because they will sound like perfect 4ths.
When singing melodies it may be helpful to know that Minor 3rds occur in 4 places. They occur between:
Major 3rds occur in 3 places. They are between:
3rds are the most common harmonic interval in music and it is important to be able to recognize their sound. The following chart has some pointers to help you hear and sing thirds. 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]'.