Back to worksheetsExercises · Chords · Music Theory
Minor All the Way, Major at the End
A Picardy third ends a minor-key passage on a major tonic chord. Only the third of the tonic triad is raised by one half step — the root and fifth stay the same. The passage remains in the minor key; the raised third is a cadential color, not a modulation. Am = A C E; raised third C→C♯ gives A major. Dm = D F A; raised F→F♯ gives D major. Em = E G B; raised G→G♯ gives E major.
Plain prints every note in black, without the color coding.
Listen
Play each example here, or download it as an MP3 (audio) or a MIDI file.
Reveal: minor tonic then Picardy third
- A minor → A major (Picardy)0:09
- D minor → D major (Picardy)0:09
- E minor → E major (Picardy)0:09
Download all
Free to use in your own lessons and practice. Made by the teachers at Tissimo.