---
title: 'Mastering Intervals: Understanding Tenths in Chords'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=--TCtFhmunQ'
video_id: '--TCtFhmunQ'
date: 2026-07-31
duration_sec: 77
---

# Mastering Intervals: Understanding Tenths in Chords

> Source: [Mastering Intervals: Understanding Tenths in Chords](https://youtube.com/watch?v=--TCtFhmunQ)

## Summary

This micro-lesson explains how the interval of a tenth arises in chord voicings when the third is played an octave higher than the root. Using G major, A minor, and a B bass with D on top, it shows how the same chord tones can be reinterpreted while preserving the tenth interval.

### Key Points

- **G major triad construction** [00:03] — G major triad is built G-B-D (1st, 3rd, 5th). The B (third) is not played in the same octave as the G root; it is played a full octave higher.
- **Third becomes a 10th** [00:18] — When the third of a chord is played up a full octave, it is no longer called a third; it is called a 10th.
- **A minor with C on top** [00:31] — An A bass note with a C on top is also a distance of a tenth. The C is a flat third in relation to A, creating an A minor triad, but it is separated by an octave.
- **B bass with D on top** [00:47] — A B in the bass with a D on top implies either B minor (B with D as the minor third up an octave) or a G chord played off the B note.
- **The interval is a tenth or minor 10th** [01:14] — In all these examples, the interval between the bass and the top note is a tenth (or a minor 10th when the third is flat).

## Transcript

now G major Triad is constructed GB d 1 through 5 so the B note the third and the root note are the only notes really in this chord but importantly the B note the third is not being played in the same octave as the G note it's not being
played like this it's being played like [Music] this that third is being played up a full octave and so instead of calling it a third we call it a 10th if we go to
a third we call it a 10th if we go to the next chord we have the a base note and the C note on top that is also a distance of a tenth here we have a c e where the C is a flat three in relation to a which
creates the A Minor triad but it is again separated by that octave if we go [Music] chord we get a B in the base and a d on top and this could imply either a B minor where we have the b in the base
and the D on top as the minor third up an octave or it could also imply a G chord being played off the B note either way we have again that interval of a
way we have again that interval of a tenth or a minor 10