Minor second

From Open Encyclopedia

A minor second is the smallest of three commonly occurring musical intervals that span two diatonic scale degrees; the others being the major second and the augmented second, which are larger by one and two semitones respectively. The minor second is abbreviated as m2 and its inversion is the major seventh. It occurs naturally and most memorably between the 7th and 8th degrees of a major scale, as the leading note rising melodically to the upper tonic (the familiar ti-do sung in solfege}.

A minor second in just intonation most often corresponds to a pitch ratio of 16/15 or 1:1.0666, or various other ratios, while in an equal tempered tuning a minor second is equal to one semitone, and is a ratio of 1:2^1/12 (approximately 1.059), or 100 cents, 11.731 cents flat of 16:15.

Traditionally the minor second is considered the most dissonant interval after the tritone.

According to Carl Dahlhaus (1990), "as late as the 13th century the half step was experienced as a problematic interval not easily understood, as the irrational remainder between the perfect fourth and the ditone [4/3 / (9/8)² = 256/243!]." In a melodic half step, no "tendency was perceived of the lower tone toward the upper, or of the upper toward the lower. The second tone was not taken to be the 'goal' of the first. Instead, the half step was avoided in clausulas because it lacked clarity as an interval." Beginning in the 13th century cadences begin to require motion in one voice by half step and the other a whole step in contrary motion.

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