Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
half-step
noun
/ˈhæf ˌstɛp/
Definition
A half-step is a musical interval between two notes that are adjacent on a keyboard or are one semitone apart.
Examples
When playing the piano, moving from C to C# is a half-step.
The scale of notes includes half-steps, which create tension in music.
To augment a note, you can raise it by a half-step.
Meaning
In music, a half-step (also known as a semitone) is the smallest interval used in Western music. It is the distance between two neighboring keys on a piano, whether they are both white keys or one white key and one black key.
Synonyms
- semitone
- minor second
