Minor tone

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In music, a minor tone is one of two intervals, occurring in some tuning systems, that may be called a whole tone or major second. The minor tone is the smaller of the two, while the major tone is the corresponding larger interval. The minor tone is the 10:9 interval in just intonation, and it is an approximation thereof in other tuning systems.

In any system where there is only one size of whole tone, such as all meantone temperaments, the term minor tone is not used and the interval is simply called a whole tone.

Unlike almost all uses of the terms minor and major, these intervals span the same number of semitones in standard equal temperament. For example, a major third and minor third are about 71 cents different in just intonation, which are approximated by intervals one semitone apart. A major tone and minor tone are about 22 cents different in just intonation, and they are approximated by the same interval.