Another interval that is often used to embellish a melody is the sixth. Instead of being the same note an octave apart, playing in sixths requires you to play two notes that are six scale degrees apart. For example, playing middle C with your right hand thumb and the A above middle C with your pinky is a sixth. You can play sixths just as you played the octaves: Use your thumb and pinky to form the sixth, and keeping the same distance between the fingers move to the next note. Like octaves, with practice it is easy for the hand to become instinctively accustomed to the distance required between the thumb and pinky to form the interval of the sixth. Sixths form a lush harmonic sound that makes a melody stand out.

FIGURE 10-6: Playing in sixths

FIGURE 10-7: Playing in thirds