semitone
Chromatic scale unit
A semitone is the smallest interval in standard Western music—the distance between two adjacent keys on a piano, whether white to black or white to white.
Twelve semitones make an octave.
Musicians also call this interval a half step: The melody rises by a semitone.
Agitation or fingerboard guide
- pianoKeyed percussion instrument
- keyboardArray of input keys
- guitarFretted stringed instrument
- violinBowed string instrument
fingerboard · key · hammer · string · neck · capo · barre · accordion
Of ancient Greek mathematics
- well-temperedHaving steady composure
- centsDollar subdivisions
- frequencyRate of recurrence
- HertzFrequency measurement's eponym
detune · calibration · temperament · comma
Fine-edged, or astute
- flatLacking vertical variation
- naturalNot artificially produced
- accidentalOccurring by chance
- clefStaff pitch indicator
Smallest Western musical interval
- tritoneSix-semitone musical interval
- octaveEight-note interval
- unisonSimultaneous identical action
- thirdPosition number three
fourth · sixth · seventh · augmented · diminished · enharmonic · cent · step
Formal decision or determination
- tensionStretched or strained state
- suspensionTemporary halt or exclusion
- approachWay of handling something
- counterpointSimultaneous independent melodies
fret
Agitation or fingerboard guide
violin · fingerboard · key · hammer · string · neck · capo · barre · accordion · synthesizer
Pythagorean
Of ancient Greek mathematics
- well-temperedHaving steady composure
- centsDollar subdivisions
- frequencyRate of recurrence
Hertz · detune · calibration · temperament · comma
sharp
Fine-edged, or astute
- flatLacking vertical variation
- naturalNot artificially produced
- accidentalOccurring by chance
clef · transpose · score · staff · note · solfege · tablature
half-step
Smallest Western musical interval
third · fourth · sixth · seventh · augmented · diminished · enharmonic · cent · step · leap
resolution
Formal decision or determination
- tensionStretched or strained state
- suspensionTemporary halt or exclusion
- approachWay of handling something
semitonewhole tone
Interval of two semitones
whole step · octave · tone · tritone · perfect fifth