Written Lessons

Whole and Half Steps

In Western music, the smallest distance from one note to another note is known as a Half-Step.

This can be visualized by thinking about the distance of one fret on a guitar,
or from the distance from any key on a piano to the next closest key on a piano -- either black or white

If we look at the letter "C" on the piano, the next closest note to it (black or white) is C#.

This means that it is a Half-Step from C to C#.

Notice that from C# to D would also be a Half Step.

Whole Steps

Another Unit of measuring the distance between notes is the Whole Step
The Whole Step is equivilant to 2 Half-Steps

This picture demonstrates how the distance from C to C# (1 Half step)
plus the distance from C# to D (1 Half Step)
is equal to the distance from C to D -- a Whole Step.

Remember:
2 HALF STEPS = 1 WHOLE STEP