{{Infobox Interval |main_interval_name = Diminished sixth |inverse = augmented third |complement = augmented third |other_names = - |abbreviation = d6<ref name="B&S"/> |semitones = 7 |interval_class = 5 |just_interval = 192:125,<ref name="Haluska">Haluska, Jan (2003). ''The Mathematical Theory of Tone Systems'', p.xxvi. {{ISBN|0-8247-4714-3}}. Classic diminished sixth.</ref> 32:21,49:32 |cents_equal_temperament = 700 |cents_24T_equal_temperament = 700 |cents_just_intonation = 743 }}
In classical music from Western culture, a '''diminished sixth''' ({{audio|Perfect fifth in equal temperament.ogg|Play}}) is an interval produced by narrowing a minor sixth by a chromatic semitone.<ref name="B&S">Benward & Saker (2003). ''Music: In Theory and Practice, Vol. I'', p.54. {{ISBN|978-0-07-294262-0}}. Specific example of an d6 not given but general example of minor intervals described.</ref><ref>Hoffmann, F.A. (1881). ''Music: Its Theory & Practice'', p.89-90. Thurgate & Sons. Digitized Aug 16, 2007.</ref> For example, the interval from A to F is a minor sixth, eight semitones wide, and both the intervals from A{{music|sharp}} to F, and from A to F{{music|flat}} are diminished sixths, spanning seven semitones.
:<score sound> { \override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f \relative c'' { \time 4/4 \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \tempo 1 = 20 <ais f'>1 <a? fes'> } } </score>
Being diminished, it is considered a dissonant interval,<ref>Benward & Saker (2003), p.92.</ref> despite being equivalent to an interval known for its consonance. Its inversion is the augmented third, and its enharmonic equivalent is the perfect fifth.
== "Wolf fifth" == {{Main|Wolf interval}}
A severely dissonant diminished sixth is observed when a fixed-pitch instrument limited to twelve notes per octave is tuned using Pythagorean tuning or a meantone temperament with a fifth flatter than 700 cents. Typically, this is the interval between G{{music|sharp}} and E{{music|flat}}. Since this interval was considered to "howl like a wolf" (because of the beating), and since it sounded like a badly out-of-tune fifth, this interval is called the "wolf" fifth. A justly tuned fifth is the most consonant interval after the perfect unison and the perfect octave.
==References== <references/>
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Diminished sixth}} Category:Diminished intervals Category:Sixths (music)
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