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Half step
01
the smallest interval used in Western music, equal to the distance between two adjacent notes on a keyboard or fretboard
What is a "half step"?
A half step, also known as a semitone, is the smallest distance between two pitches in Western music. It represents the move from one key to the very next key on a piano keyboard, whether black or white. For example, the move from C to C♯ or from E to F is a half step. In musical notation, a half step raises or lowers a note by the smallest possible amount, and it is important for defining scales, chords, and harmonies.
Example
In the major scale, there is a whole step between the first and second notes and a half step between the third and fourth notes.
The composer included a sharp before the F note to indicate it should be played one half step higher.
