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A semitone is the smallest interval in music. It is the distance between two adjacent notes on the chromatic scale, or between two adjacent frequencies.
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Semitones in music theory
In music theory, a semitone is the smallest interval commonly used. Semitones are also known as half steps or half tones. They are the distance between two adjacent notes on a keyboard or other musical instrument. For example, the interval between C and C# (C-sharp) is a semitone.
The term “semitone” can also refer to the difference in pitch between two notes that are one octave apart. In this case, it is also called an octave. For example, the note A is an octave higher than the note A♭ (A-flat).
The term semitone can be used to describe other intervals as well, such as the difference in pitch between two notes that are two octaves apart. In this case it would be called a double octave.
Semitones and scales
A semitone, also called a half step or a half tone, is the smallest musical interval commonly used in Western tonal music. The semitone is defined as the interval between two adjacent notes in a 12-note chromatic scale. For example, in Western music the notes C and C# (C-sharp) are a semitone apart.
In tonal music, scales are built from a series of semitones. For example, the major scale is made up of seven semitones:
Semitones can also be used to measure the distance between two pitches that are not part of the chromatic scale. For instance, the interval between C and Eb (E-flat) is a minor third, which consists of three semitones.
Semitones and chords
In music, a semitone is the smallest interval commonly used. The term “semitone” comes from the Latin word for “half,” as it is equivalent to half a tone. A semitone is typically divided into two cents, which are very small units of measurement. One cent is 1/100th of a semitone.
There are 12 semitones in an octave, each with a different pitch. For example, C to C# (or Db) is a semitone. The intervals between the notes of a chromatic scale are all semitones.
In tonal music, semitones usually occur between scale degrees that are part of chords. For example, the interval between C and D is a major 2nd, and contains two semitones (C to C# and C# to D). The interval between C and Eb is a minor 3rd, and contains three semitones (C to Bb, Bb to Eb).
Semitones and intervals
In music, a semitone is the smallest distance between two notes on a chromatic scale. This scale is made up of 12 notes, each of which is separated from the next by a semitone. On a piano, for example, there are seven white keys and five black keys. Each white key represents a different note, and each black key falls in between two white keys (hence the term “chromatic”, meaning “colorful”). The distance between any two adjacent notes (black or white) on the piano is a semitone.
Intervals are simply defined as the distance between two notes. For example, if you were to play the note C and then skip over to the note E, you would be playing a third (because there are three chromatic steps between C and E). If you were to play C and then move up two steps to D, you would be playing a second (because there are only two steps between C and D). Likewise, if you were to move down from C to A, you would be playing a sixth (because there are six chromatic steps between C and A).
It’s important to remember that intervals can be either major or minor. A major interval represents a distance of two whole tones (or four semitones), while a minor interval represents a distance of one and a half tones (or three semitones). So, going back to our previous examples, a major third would be represented by four semitones (C-E), while a minor third would be represented by only three semitones (C-Eb).
Semitones and harmony
In music, a semitone is the smallest interval commonly used. Semitones occur when two notes are played that have an inherent pitch relationship of one whole step (two frets on a guitar) or half step (one fret on a guitar) between them.
A semitone can also be thought of as the distance between two adjacent notes on a piano or other musical keyboard. All 12 notes in Western music are separated by semitones.
Musical harmony is built on relationships between pitches that are separated by either a whole step or a half step. These relationships are called intervals, and intervals can be described as either major or minor. For example, the interval between C and D is a whole step, whereas the interval between C and D# is a half step.
The distance between two pitches can also be expressed in terms of octaves. An octave is the span of eight pitches, each separated by a whole step. For example, the notes C-D-E-F-G-A-B form an octave. The interval between any two pitches that are separated by an octave (e.g., C and C#) is also considered to be a semitone.
Semitones and ear training
In music, a semitone is the smallest distance between two notes on a keyboard (or other musical instrument). On a piano, for example, there are 88 keys, which means there are 88 semitones. The term “semitone” comes from the Latin for “half tone,” since it’s half of a whole tone (or whole note).
training your ear to recognize intervals is an important skill for any musician. Being able to identify semitones can help you tune your instrument, transpose music, and even compose your own tunes.
Semitones and temperaments
In music, a semitone is the smallest interval between two pitches, or notes. The word “semitone” comes from the Latin semi, meaning “half,” and tonus, meaning “tone.” A semitone can also be called a “half step” or a “whole tone.”
Semitones are used to measure the distance between two notes on a scale. For example, on a piano, the distance between C and C# (C sharp) is a semitone. C# is one semitone higher than C. The distance between C and D is also a semitone.
In equal temperament (the most common way of tuning an instrument), there are 12 semitones in an octave. This means that there are 12 notes in an octave, each separated by a semitone. In other words, if you start on any note and move up or down the scale by one semitone, you will reach the next note in the scale. Semitones are also used to measure intervals between two notes that are not in the same octave. For example, the interval between C and G (a fifth) is seven semitones.
There are various types of musical scales, which use different numbers of notes per octave. For example, some scales used in Indian classical music have 22 notes per octave (called microtones).
Semitones and intonation
In music, a semitone is the smallest interval between two pitches. The semitone is also known as the half step or whole tone. A semitone can be either a sharp (ascending) or a flat (descending).
An example of a sharp would be C to C# (or Db), while an example of a flat would be B to Bb. In between each pitch is a semitone. When two notes are played together that are less than a semitone apart, this is called an interval.
If the pitches are more than a semitone apart, this is called intonation. Intonation is very important in music, as it helps create melody and harmony.
Semitones and transposition
In music, a semitone is the smallest interval commonly used. It is the interval between two adjacent notes on the chromatic scale, or between two adjacent pitches. For example, C to C# (or Db) is a semitone.
Semitones are very important in music because they are the basis of tonality and chords. They also help to create tension and release in a composition.
One way of thinking about semitones is that they are like the steps on a staircase: they can either go up or down. When we talk about transposition in music, we’re usually talking about moving a melody or chord progression up or down by a certain number of semitones.
Semitones and notation
In music, a semitone is the smallest interval between two notes. The term is also used to describe the distance between two adjacent keys on a piano or other musical instrument. A semitone can also be represented by a corresponding change in pitch when using scientific notation. For example, if the note A is above middle C, it would be written as A4. If the note A were one semitone lower, it would be written as A3.
