Third (chord)

Third (E), in red, of a C major chord (<phonos file="Third of a major chord on C.mid">Play</phonos>).

First inversion C major triad. The third is the bass.

In music, the third factor of a chord is the note or pitch two scale degrees above the root or tonal center. When the third is the bass note, or lowest note, of the expressed triad, the chord is in first inversion <phonos file="Major triad on C in first inversion.mid">Play</phonos>.

Conventionally, the third is third in importance to the root and fifth, with first inversion being the second strongest inversion and the third in all primary triads (I, IV, V and i, iv, v) being variable, major or minor. In jazz chords and theory, the third is required due to it determining chord quality.

The third in both major and augmented chords is major (E♮ in C) and the third in both minor and diminished chords is minor (E♭ in C).

Two added chords with mixed thirds, thirds separated by octave.
<phonos file="Two added chords with mixed thirds, thirds separated by octave left.mid">Play chord on left</phonos>

Tenth

Major tenth on C. <phonos file="Major tenth on C.mid">Play</phonos>

Minor tenth on C. <phonos file="Minor tenth on C.mid">Play</phonos>

In music and music theory, a tenth is the note ten scale degrees from the root of a chord and also the interval between the root and the tenth.

Since there are only seven degrees in a diatonic scale the tenth degree is the same as the mediant and the interval of a tenth is a compound third.

See also

• List of third intervals