Definition

Noun 1. The smallest musical interval in Western music: A "half step" is the distance between two adjacent notes on a musical scale, such as from C to C♯ or from E to F. It is the smallest standard interval used in most Western music.

Usage

The term "half step" is used to describe the smallest pitch movement between two notes. It is a fundamental concept for building scales, chords, and understanding melody and harmony. * As a measurement of interval: It specifies the precise distance between two pitches. * In instruction or description: It is used to indicate a required small change in pitch.

Examples

• The melody rises by a half step at the end of the phrase, creating tension.
• To play a C minor scale, you must lower the E and B notes by a half step.
• The interval between the second and third notes of a major scale is a whole step, not a half step.

Advanced Usage

• Chromatic Movement: A series of consecutive half steps is called chromatic movement.
  • The bass line uses half-step chromatic descent to create a somber mood.
• Modulation: Composers often use a series of half-step shifts to modulate (change key) smoothly.
  • The transition to the new key was achieved through a clever half-step modulation.

Variants and Related Words

• Semitone: This is a direct synonym for "half step," more commonly used in British English and formal music theory contexts.
• Whole Step (or Whole Tone): An interval equal to two half steps, such as from C to D.
• Interval: The general term for the distance in pitch between two notes.

Synonyms

• Semitone
• Minor second (This is the technical name for the interval of a half step when counting scale degrees.)

Related Concepts

• Accidental: A symbol (♯, ♭, ♮) that raises or lowers a note by a half step (or whole step).
• Chromatic Scale: A scale consisting entirely of half steps, containing all twelve pitches within an octave.

Noun

1. the musical interval between adjacent keys on a keyboard instrument