Tenth (interval)

This article is about the musical interval. For the ordinal of 10, see 10.

In music theory, a tenth (or compound third ^[1] ) is a musical interval encompassing ten scale degrees. ^[2] It is a compound interval, ^[3] composed of an octave plus a third. ^[4] Like a third, a tenth is typically major or minor but can also have other chord qualities, like being augmented or diminished.

Major tenth

Major tenth

Name
Other names	Compound major third
Abbreviation	M10
Size
Semitones	16
Interval class	4
Cents
12-Tone equal temperament	1600

A major tenth is a compound interval spanning 16 semitones, or 4 semitones above an octave. For example, the interval between C₄ and E₅ (in scientific pitch notation) is a major tenth.

Minor tenth

Minor tenth

Name
Other names	Compound minor third
Abbreviation	m10
Size
Semitones	15
Interval class	3
Cents
12-Tone equal temperament	1500

A minor tenth is a compound interval spanning 15 semitones, or 3 semitones above an octave. For example, the interval between C₄ and E♭₅ is a minor tenth.

References

1. Apel, Willi (1950). The Harvard Dictionary of Music (Sixth Printing ed.). p. 359.
2. "How To Play 10th Intervals". PianoGroove.com. 2022-12-29. Retrieved 2026-02-01.
3. Laitz, Steven G. (2008). The Complete Musician (2nd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 71–72. ISBN   978-0-19-530108-3.
4. Hamm, Chelsey; Hughes, Bryn (2026-02-01). "Intervals". VIVA.