The minor 2nd and major 2nd are the two smallest intervals: a minor 2nd spans one semitone and a major 2nd spans two semitones. C to C# is a minor 2nd, C to D is a major 2nd, and the minor 2nd is the sharpest dissonance in music while the major 2nd sounds much softer.
What is the difference between a minor 2nd and a major 2nd?
The minor 2nd and the major 2nd are the two smallest intervals in music, and they differ by a single semitone. A minor 2nd spans one semitone, the smallest distance in Western music, while a major 2nd spans two semitones, a whole tone. C to C# is a minor 2nd, one semitone; C to D is a major 2nd, two semitones. Both intervals span two letter names, which is why both are 2nds, and the semitone count is what decides whether each one is minor or major. The two intervals sound very different despite their small size. The minor 2nd is the sharpest dissonance in music: two notes a semitone apart clash strongly, because their sound waves interfere and create an audible beating that the ear finds uncomfortable. The major 2nd is also a dissonance, but a much softer one: two notes a whole tone apart sound open and spacious by comparison, and the major 2nd is the interval between the 1st and 2nd degrees of every major scale, so it appears constantly in melodies without sounding harsh.
How the two 2nds compare
Count them the same way as any interval: letters first, then semitones. G to Ab is two letters, G and A, and one semitone, so it is a minor 2nd. G to A is two letters and two semitones, so it is a major 2nd. D to Eb is a minor 2nd, one semitone, while D to E is a major 2nd, two semitones. The pattern holds on every root: the minor 2nd is always the note one semitone above the root, and the major 2nd is always the note two semitones above the root, which is the 2nd degree of the major scale. The 2nds appear in chords as well as in scales. The 9th of a chord is a compound 2nd, and a minor 9th, thirteen semitones, sounds tense and dark, while a major 9th, fourteen semitones, sounds sweet and open. The sus2 chord is built on a major 2nd, which is why it sounds open rather than tense: the 2nd sits a whole tone above the root, far enough not to clash. The Csus2 guitar chord shows the major 2nd in a chord, and the interval calculator measures either 2nd from any root.
Worked example — 2nds above F. F to Gb is two letters, F and G, and one semitone, so it is a minor 2nd. In the sharp-only system used by ChordFlow, Gb is spelled F#, and F to F# is also a minor 2nd, one semitone, with the same two letters. F to G is two letters and two semitones, so it is a major 2nd, and G is the 2nd degree of the F major scale. Play F and Gb together on the piano and listen for the sharp clash, then play F and G together and notice how much softer the major 2nd sounds. The F major scale shows the major 2nd, G, as its 2nd degree.
How to practise hearing the 2nds
Practise the 2nds as a pair, minor then major, so your ear learns the difference between the sharp clash and the softer whole tone.
- Play C and C# together, a minor 2nd, then C and D together, a major 2nd, and listen for the clash softening as the gap widens by one semitone.
- Sing a major 2nd above a root note, then lower the top note by a semitone to sing the minor 2nd, checking yourself against the piano.
- Play the C major scale ascending and notice that the first step, C to D, is a major 2nd, the whole tone that starts every major scale.
- Find the minor 2nd in the C major scale between E and F and between B and C, the two semitone steps that give the scale its shape.
- Use the interval calculator to quiz yourself on 2nds from random roots until you can name the quality from the sound alone.
Common mistakes
- Calling a semitone a minor 2nd in the wrong direction — A minor 2nd is one semitone, but the letter count still matters: C to C# is a minor 2nd, while C to Db is also a minor 2nd, spelled differently. The semitones are the same, but the letters decide the spelling.
- Thinking the major 2nd is consonant — The major 2nd is a dissonance, even though it sounds softer than the minor 2nd. It wants to resolve, usually by moving one of its notes by step, and treating it as stable will make your harmonies sound unfinished.
- Confusing the 2nd with the 9th — A 2nd sits within the octave and a 9th sits above it, and they function differently in chords. A sus2 chord uses the 2nd, while an add9 chord uses the 9th, and the two are not interchangeable.
Quick reference
This table lists the minor and major 2nds above six roots, so you can see the one-semitone difference working on roots that are easy and roots that are hard. In every row the minor 2nd is the note one semitone above the root and the major 2nd is the note two semitones above it, and the letter count is two in both columns.
| Root | Minor 2nd (1 semitone) | Major 2nd (2 semitones) |
|---|---|---|
| C | C# | D |
| G | G# | A |
| D | D# | E |
| A | A# | B |
| E | F | F# |
| F | F# | G |
Play each row on piano as a pair, minor 2nd first and major 2nd second, and listen for the clash softening as the gap widens. When the pairs feel familiar, try the same exercise from B and F#, where the spellings are trickier but the one-semitone difference is exactly the same.
Frequently asked questions
What is a minor 2nd?
A minor 2nd is an interval of one semitone between two notes a letter apart, such as C to C# or E to F. It is the smallest interval in Western music and the sharpest dissonance.
What is a major 2nd?
A major 2nd is an interval of two semitones, a whole tone, between two notes a letter apart, such as C to D or G to A. It is the interval between the 1st and 2nd degrees of a major scale.
Which is more dissonant, the minor 2nd or the major 2nd?
The minor 2nd, by a clear margin. Two notes a semitone apart clash strongly and create audible beating, while two notes a whole tone apart sound much softer, even though both intervals are technically dissonant.
Where do 2nds appear in music?
Everywhere: the major 2nd is the first step of every major scale, the sus2 chord is built on a major 2nd, and the 9th of an extended chord is a compound 2nd. The minor 2nd appears in the phrygian mode and in the semitone steps of every scale.
How do I tell a minor 2nd from a major 2nd by ear?
Listen for the clash: the minor 2nd sounds pinched and sharp, with an audible beating between the notes, while the major 2nd sounds open and spacious by comparison. Practise the pair together on the same root until the difference is obvious.