4:5:6

Revision as of 11:14, 11 November 2025 by FloraC (talk | contribs) ("Just major triad" isn't less precise. 3:4:5 isn't more concordant than 4:5:6 for multiple good reasons; HE isn't everything.)

4:5:6 is an otonal major triad, known as the just major triad, classical major triad, or Ptolemaic major triad. It is among the most consonant triads, and it is among the most common triads in music.

Chord information
Harmonics 4:5:6
Subharmonics 1/(15:12:10)
Intervals from root 1/15/43/2
Cents from root 386¢702¢
Step intervals 5/4, 6/5
Step cents 386¢, 316¢
Color name yo or y
Prime limit 5
Genus 35 (15)
Intervallic odd limit 5
Otonal odd limit 5
Utonal odd limit 15
Consistent edos (d ≥ 2) 3edo*, 12edo*, 15edo*, 19edo**, …

Its second rotation, 3:4:5, reportedly has a lower harmonic entropy. However, 3:4:5 is not typically considered to be consonant in counterpoint and some derived theories (but not necessarily modern pop or xenharmonic theory), as it is not only nonrooted but the fourth above the root contrasts and therefore wants to move to the missing major third.

Rotations around the octave

3:4:5, "2nd inversion"
4:5:6, "Root position"
5:6:8, "1st inversion"

Voicings and rotations around two octaves

Voicing
Rotation
Root '3 '5 '3'5
On 1 4:5:6 4:5:12 2:3:5 2:5:6
On 3 3:8:10 3:4:5 3:5:8 3:4:10
On 5 5:6:16 5:12:16 5:8:12 5:6:8


Related chords

Chords related to this triad (5-limit except where noted):