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 In this lesson, we will learn to find the notes that are Major and minor 6^ths above or below any given note. A note that is a Major 6^th above another note is a distance of nine half steps away from the given note. That is nine piano keys. A note that is a minor 6^th above another note is a distance of eight half steps away from the given note.

m6 = minor 6^th     M6 = Major 6^th
                                         m6  M6

The method for finding the note that is a Major or minor 6^th above or below any given note is straightforward. To find Major and minor 6^ths, you will use the principle of inverted intervals, which was introduced in the last lesson. Just as 5^ths invert to 4^ths, 6^ths invert to 3^rds. By now you should be very good at finding 3^rds, so finding 6^ths will be easy.

As you know, every note name can be both above and below a particular given note. For example, E is a minor 3^rd below G. However, as shown in the illustration below, a different instance of E is also above G. The E above is a different distance that is a Major 6^ths above G.

 When you keep the same starting note (such as G in the illustration above), but switch from the E above (G to E) to the E below (E to G), or from the E below to the E above, you are said to be inverting the interval.

 Finding 6^ths by Using the Principle of Inversion

 The note name that is a 6^th above a given note will also be some type of 3^rd below the same given note. The note name that is a 6^th below a given note will always be the same note that is some type of 3^rd above the same given note. The modifier (Major, minor) changes when inverting an interval from a 6^th to a 3^rd. If E is a Major 6^th above G, then E is also a minor 3^rd below G. B is a minor 6^th below G, so B is also a Major 3^rd above G. You MUST memorize the inversion chart below for 6^ths to 3^rds. 

 To find the note name that is a Major or minor 6^th above or below a given note, just convert it to its inverted form of Major or minor 3^rd. The note name will be the same.

Examples:

What is a Major 6^th above C? A Major 6^th above C is the same note name as a minor 3^rd below C. Just use the Cycle of Thirds and you find that a minor 3^rd below C is A. This means that A is also a Major 6^th above C.

What is a minor 6^th below D? A minor 6^th below D is the same note name as a Major 3^rd above D. A Major 3^rd above D is F#. So F# is also a minor 6^th below D.

You must memorize the inversion chart above. You must be able to quickly name the correct 3^rd that matches the four varieties of 6^ths. Then just find the corresponding 3^rd to get the correct note name for the 6^th you want to find.

Exercise:

Fill in the blanks with the note that is a Major 6^th above the given note. Use the Interval Answer Charts to check your answers.

(To find a Major 6^th above, find the note that is a minor 3^rd below) 

Exercise:

Fill in the blanks with the note that is a Major 6^th below the given note. Use the Interval Answer Charts to check your answers.

(To find a Major 6^th below, find the note that is a minor 3^rd above) 

Exercise:

Fill in the blanks with the note that is a minor 6^th above the given note. Use the Interval Answer Charts to check your answers.

(To find the a minor 6^th above, find the note that is a Major 3^rd below)

Exercise:

Fill in the blanks with the note that is a minor 6^th below the given note. Use the Interval Answer Charts to check your answers.

(To find a minor 6^th below, find the note that is a Major 3^rd above)

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