Semitone
From TANGOWIKI-TITAF
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