Editing Major third (section)

{{about|the musical interval|the guitar tuning|major thirds tuning}}
{{see also|Ditone}}
{{More references|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox Interval
| main_interval_name = Major third
| inverse = [[Minor sixth]]
| complement = [[Minor sixth]]
| other_names = ditone
| abbreviation = M3, {{sup|maj}}3, {{sup|M}}3, {{nobr|maj 3}}
| semitones = 4
| interval_class = 4
| just_interval = [[5-limit tuning|5:4]], [[Pythagorean tuning|81:64]], [[Septimal major third|9:7]]
| cents_equal_temperament = 400
| cents_24T_equal_temperament =
| cents_just_intonation = 386, 408, 435
}}
[[Image:Major third on C.png|thumb|right|Just major third.]]
[[Image:Ditone on C.png|thumb|right|Pythagorean major third, i.e. a [[ditone]]]]
[[File:Comparison of major thirds.png|right|thumb|Comparison, in cents, of intervals at or near a major third]]
[[File:Harmonic series klang.png|thumb|[[Harmonic series (music)|Harmonic series]], partials&nbsp;1–5, numbered
{{audio|Harmonic series klang.mid|Play}}.]]

In [[music theory]], a '''third''' is a [[Interval (music)|musical interval]] encompassing three [[staff position]]s (see [[Interval (music)#Number|Interval number]] for more details), and the '''major third''' ({{Audio|Major third on C.mid|Play}}) is a third spanning four [[Semitone|half steps]] or two [[Whole step|whole steps.]]<ref>{{cite book |author-link=Allen Forte |last=Forte |first=Allen |year=1979 |title=Tonal Harmony in Concept and Practice |page=8 |publisher=Holt, Rinehart, and Winston |edition=3rd |isbn=0-03-020756-8 |quote=A large 3rd, or ''major&nbsp;3rd'' (M3) encompassing four half steps. }}</ref> Along with the [[minor third]], the major third is one of two commonly occurring thirds. It is described as ''major'' because it is the larger interval of the two: The major third spans four semitones, whereas the [[minor third]] only spans three. For example, the interval from C to E is a major third, as the note&nbsp;E lies four semitones above C, and there are three staff positions from C to E.

{{Quote|The intervals from the [[tonic (music)|tonic]] (keynote) in an upward direction to the second, to the third, to the sixth, and to the seventh [[scale degree]]s of a major scale are called "major".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Benward |first1=Bruce |last2=Saker |first2=Marilyn |year=2003 |title=Music: In theory and practice |volume=I |page=52 |publisher=McGraw-Hill |edition=7th |isbn=978-0-07-294262-0 }}</ref>}}

[[Diminished third|Diminished]] and [[augmented third]]s are shown on the [[musical staff]] the same number of lines and spaces apart, but contain a different number of semitones in pitch (two and five).