Semitone

Semitone

Interval Musical Interval Chromatic Scale Equal Temperament Chromatic Scale

A semitone, also known as a half step or half tone, is the smallest interval used in Western tonal music. On a piano, it is the distance between two adjacent keys (e.g., from C to C♯ or from E to F).

In **equal temperament**, twelve semitones make up one octave.

Types of Semitones

• **Chromatic semitone** – between two notes with the same letter name (e.g., C to C♯)
• **Diatonic semitone** – between two notes with different letter names (e.g., E to F)

Importance

Semitones are the building blocks of:

• Chromatic Scale
• Modulation and voice leading
• Expressive ornamentation

See also

• Chromatic Scale
• Diatonic Scale
• Equal Temperament