Major second

The musical interval of a major second — also called a whole-tone — is the relationship between the first note (the root or tonic) and the second note in a major scale (and also a minor scale). It is the inversion of the minor seventh. It is abbreviated as M2.

Related Topics:
Musical interval - Major scale - Minor scale - Inversion - Minor seventh

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A major second in just intonation can correspond to a pitch ratio of 8:9, 9:10, or various other ratios, while in an equal tempered tuning, a major second is equal to two semitones, a whole-tone, a ratio of 1:22/12 (approximately 1.122), or 200 cents, 3.910 cents smaller than 8:9. Two whole tones create a ditone, 8:92 or 64:81.

Related Topics:
Just intonation - Equal tempered - Semitone - Cent - Ditone

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The major second is considered one of the more dissonant intervals of the diatonic scale.

Related Topics:
Dissonant - Diatonic scale

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