Minor third
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A minor third is the smaller of two commonly occurring musical intervals that span three diatonic scale degrees. The prefix 'minor' identifies it as being the smaller of the two (by one semitone); its larger counterpart being a major third. The minor third is abbreviated as m3 and its inversion is the major sixth.
The minor scale is so named because of the presence of this interval between its tonic and mediant (1st and 3rd) scale degrees. Minor chords too, take their name from the presence of this interval built on the chord's root (provided that the interval of a perfect fifth from the root is also present or implied).
A minor third in just intonation most often corresponds to a pitch ratio of 6:5 (or 1:1.2), or various other ratios. while in an equal tempered tuning, a minor third is equal to three semitones, a ratio of 1:23/12 (approximately 1:1.189), or 300 cents, 15.641 cents smaller.
The minor third is classed as an imperfect consonance and is considered one of the most consonant intervals after the unison, octave, perfect fifth, and perfect fourth.
Augmented second
An augmented second is enharmonically equivalent to a minor third, but written as a major second with an additional accidental as it is a semitone larger.
Augmented seconds occur in many scales, most importantly the harmonic minor and its various modes. They also occur in the various "gypsy minor" scales (which consist almost entirely of augmented and minor seconds). In harmonic minor scales, the augmented second occurs between the sixth and seventh scale degrees. For example, in the scale of A harmonic minor, the notes F and G# form the interval of an augmented second. This distinguishing feature of harmonic minor scales occurs as a consequence of the seventh scale degree having been chromatically raised in order to allow chords in a minor key to follow the same rules of cadence observed in major keys, where the V chord is "dominant" (that is, contains a major triad plus a minor seventh).
In the Arab tone system, augmented second does not refer to a minor third, but rather an interval one quarter tone wider than a major second.Template:Citation needed
See also
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