Studied by 0 peopleNotes forming a half step may be written in two ways
both notes may be written using the same letter name or the notes may be written with two consecutive letter names
In music of the West, the octave is divided into
12 equal parts called half steps, or semitones.
In non-Western music, the octave may be divided into
24 units (quartertones).
In some more modern Western music, it may be divided into
even smaller units (microtones), as in the 43-unit music by American composer Harry Partch.
The white keys on a piano are separated by
black keys except for E to F and B to C.
All adjacent numbered keys are
called half steps (HS).
Half steps are paired
white to black keys, or black to white keys, except for the two adjacent pairs of white keys (E to F and B to C).
If the letter names are different consecutive letters,
the half step is called a diatonic half step (di = two).
If the letter names are the same,
this is called a chromatic half step (chroma = color)
A scale is
a pattern of notes.
When a scale consists only of notes that are half steps apart,
this is called a chromatic scale.
For example, the half step F to F# may also be written
F to Gb.
Properties of a chromatic scale: All pitches are
a half step apart.
Properties of a chromatic scale: When notating an ascending chromatic scale, sharps are usually used to
identify black keys.
Properties of a chromatic scale: When notating a descending chromatic scale,
flats are usually used to identify black keys
Properties of a chromatic scale: There are 12 different
pitches in a chromatic scale
Properties of a chromatic scale: The thirteenth pitch in a chromatic scale
is the octave note.
Although this is called a chromatic scale, both
chromatic half steps (C–C#) and diatonic half steps (C#–D)are used.
Note that diatonic spellings usually are used for
the two pairs of white key half steps, E–F and B–C.
Two adjacent half steps comprise
a whole step.
For a whole step, on the keyboard,
skip one key between two notes
Diatonic whole steps consist of
two half steps with adjacent letter names.
Note
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