3 Minute Theory: Intervals - Whole Steps and Half Steps

Today we are talking about Music Intervals, particularly half steps and whole steps. Intervals are the distance between two notes.

The smallest interval in music is called a half step. Half steps are easy to visualize on a stringed instrument with a fret board, like the guitar, since every fret is one half step apart.

Two examples of half step intervals are marked with a yellow V in this fretboard image.

On keyboard instruments, like the piano, any two keys that are touching one another, without any other notes between them, are one half-step apart. This is true of the white keys, E to F and B to C. These pairs are half step intervals since there are no other keys between them. Two examples of half step intervals are marked with a yellow V in this keyboard image.

You will notice that most white keys are separated by a black key. In order to move a half step interval from these other keys, you will have to move to its neighboring black key. Two examples of half step intervals are marked with a yellow V in this keyboard image. (Remember, there are many different ways to build half step intervals, these are only a few examples!)

In music, one whole step equals two half steps. Two white keys that are touching one another, but have a black key between them are a whole step apart. Here are a few examples of whole step intervals on the piano, marked by a partial orange rectangle. Just like with half steps, there are many different options for building whole steps. These are just a few examples.

On a guitar, you can build a whole step by moving two frets up or down, as each fret is equal to a half step, and two half steps make a whole.

You can use these two intervals to build scales.

A chromatic scales is built using only half steps. It can start and end on any pitch.

Major scales are named after their starting pitch, or note. Major scales follow this pattern:

Whole Step - Whole Step - Half Step

Whole Step Whole Step - Whole Step - Half Step