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Mickey Hansen

Mickey Hansen

Half Steps and Whole Steps

Imagine that you are sitting in front of a piano or a keyboard, and you play every single note, black or white, in order. You might play A-Bb-B-C-C#-D-Eb-E-F-F#-G-G#-A. This is called the . Notice that not all of the transitions have accidentals. For example, B# is enharmonically equivalent to C natural, and E# is enharmonically equivalent to F natural.

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2Fxblank_piano_keyboard_layout.png.pagespeed.ic-attT5jWrWQNS.png?alt=media&token=9d87c2e1-0b63-43a6-aa42-15c41919a433

(image via Yamaha)

A is special because all of the notes are a apart. In other words, these notes area right next to each other on the keyboard. For example, C is a away from C#, and E is a away from F.

A is just two half steps. C is a away from D, and E is a away from F#, for example.

Intervals

Naming Intervals

Another way to talk about half steps and whole steps is to consider them as intervals. In music, an interval is the distance between two pitches. A is a , and a is a major second.

Intervals can also be described in terms of their quality, which refers to the type of interval (major, minor, etc.) and their size, which refers to the number of pitch classes they span. For example, a "" is a perfect interval that spans seven pitch classes. The number (2nd, 3rd, 4th,...7th) comes from the space between the letters. For example, a C to E is a 3rd, an E to G is a 3rd, etc. Intervals are usually considered as spaces less than an octave, although sometimes, you will hear people talking about a 9th or a 10th. You usually won't hear people talking about a 22nd.

There are several types of intervals, including , , , , and .

If you are already familiar with major scales, an easy way to remember whether an interval is minor, major, perfect, etc. is to think about a . A has all , (e.g. M2, M3, M6, etc.) except for the 4th, 5th, and the octave, which are considered . For example, a C to an E is considered a major 3rd, but a C to a G is a perfect 5th. You usually don't say "perfect octave" or "perfect 8th" -- just "octave" is good enough.

Once you know the , a minor interval is one less than a major interval. So, if C to E is a major 3rd, then C to Eb is a minor 3rd. These don't necessarily correspond to the minor scale. C to Db is a minor 2nd, but C#/Db is not in the c minor sale. You cannot turn into . For example, you will not have a minor 5th or a minor 8th.

Augmented and are used less frequently than major and . You can augment or diminish . When you augment an interval, you add one to the major interval. For example, C to E# is an augmented 3rd. When you learn about voice leading in Unit 4, you will most likely talk about augmented 2nds and as things to avoid in part-writing.

A diminished interval takes a minor interval and takes away one . For example, a C to a E double flat would be a diminished 3rd. The most common diminished chords you will run into are (for example, C to B double flat) and (C to Gb).

are not as common as major or , but they can add tension and dissonance to music and are often used in jazz and other styles of music that incorporate more complex harmonies. Understanding and how they relate to other intervals is an important aspect of music theory.

Singing and Recognizing Intervals

The AP music theory exam will make you recognize intervals in two different contexts. First, you will hear a melody and you will have to notate the melody given a specific starting pitch. This means that you will have to recognize intervals by ear. The second situation is that you will have to sight sing a melody given a score. You will again be given the starting pitch, so you will have to be able to sing intervals with some degree of accuracy.

Depending on your current background in music, there are a few different ways you can practice for these. My favorite was singing on the do-re-mi scale. It is also helpful to think of specific songs that you are familiar with that use the intervals. Here is a list to start, but you should also do research and make your own!

IntervalSong
minor 2nd The Jaws theme song
Major 2nd "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer"
minor 3rd"This Old Man"
Major 3rd"Oh Where the Saints"
Perfect 4th"We Wish You a Merry Christmas"
diminished 5th"The Simpsons"
Perfect 5th"Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"
minor 6thChopin Waltz Op 64 No 2
Major 6th"My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean"
minor 7th"Pure Imagination" from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Major 7th"Take on Me"
Octave "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"

Consonant and Dissonant Intervals

Notice that the augmented 4th and diminished 5th are enharmonic to one another, meaning that it sounds the same when you play an augmented 4th and a diminished 5th. This specific interval has a special name in music theory, called the (since the notes are three whole steps apart) The was considered dissonant and unstable by many ancient cultures and was often avoided in music. Historically, many western European considered it the "devil's tone," and it was avoided in any type of religious music (which was most music at the time)

Despite its reputation as a dissonant interval, the has played a significant role in the development of Western music. In the Baroque period, composers such as J.S. Bach and George Frideric Handel used the to create tension and dissonance in their music, particularly in the use of dissonant chords and the use of chromaticism.

In the Romantic and modern periods, the became more widely used and accepted in music, with composers such as Richard Wagner and Igor Stravinsky incorporating it into their music. Today, the is an important interval in many styles of music and is used to create tension, dissonance, and other expressive effects.

Even if you don't have very strong feelings about the , you might notice that some intervals just don't sound good and they feel unsettling, while other notes sound good together - they feel settled and resolved. The intervals that create tension or instability are called dissonant intervals, and the intervals that create a sense of resolution or stability are called consonant intervals. Using dissonance is not always bad. In fact, good music usually requires you to write some dissonance to build tension before you resolve to consonant intervals and chords.

Consonant intervals are the octave, perfect 5th, and major and minor thirds and 6ths. Dissonant intervals are are the major and minor 2nds, the , major and minor sevenths, and any augmented or .

What about the perfect 4th? In short, it depends. In some contexts, the perfect 4th is very stable. However, in other contexts, the perfect 4th wants to resolve to the perfect 5th, so it is considered unstable and dissonant.

It is important to note that these definitions of consonance and dissonance were defined in western Europe, and they are taught here because they are relevant to the AP Music Theory Exam. Different cultures and musical traditions have different ideas about what is consonant and dissonant, and the use of consonance and dissonance can vary widely between different styles of music.

Key Terms to Review (17)

Augmented 4ths

: Augmented 4ths are intervals that consist of four whole steps. They are one half step larger than perfect 4ths.

Augmented Intervals

: Augmented intervals are one half step larger than a perfect or major interval. They have an expanded and "stretched" sound compared to their perfect or major counterparts.

Augmented Seconds

: Augmented seconds refer to intervals that span three half steps. They are larger than a minor third but smaller than a major third. Augmented seconds have a dissonant and tense sound.

Chromatic Scale

: The chromatic scale is a musical scale consisting of all twelve pitches within an octave. It includes both the white and black keys on the piano keyboard.

Diminished 5ths

: Diminished fifths are intervals that consist of six half steps. They are one half step smaller than perfect fifths.

Diminished 7ths

: Diminished 7ths are intervals that consist of six half steps. They are one half step smaller than minor 7ths.

Diminished intervals

: Diminished intervals are intervals that are one half step smaller than a perfect or major interval. They have a slightly "shrunk" sound compared to their perfect or major counterparts.

Half Step

: A half step is the smallest interval between two adjacent notes in Western music. It is equivalent to moving from one key on a piano keyboard to the very next key, regardless of whether it's black or white.

Major Intervals

: Major intervals are larger than minor intervals, spanning two whole steps or more. They have a bright and happy sound.

Major Scale

: A major scale is a sequence of seven different pitches that follows a specific pattern of whole and half steps. It has a bright and happy sound.

Minor Intervals

: Minor intervals are smaller than major intervals, spanning less than two whole steps. They have a sad or melancholic sound.

Minor Second

: A minor second is the smallest interval in Western music, consisting of two adjacent notes that are one half step apart.

Minor Third

: A minor third refers to an interval between two pitches that spans three half steps. It creates a slightly tense or sad sound.

Perfect Fifth

: A perfect fifth is an interval consisting of seven semitones (or half steps) that creates a strong, stable, and consonant sound.

Perfect Intervals

: Perfect intervals are consonant and stable sounding musical distances between two notes that do not need any alteration. They have a balanced and harmonious quality.

Tritone

: The tritone is an interval consisting of three whole steps or six half steps. It creates dissonance and tension in music.

Whole step

: A whole step is a musical interval that spans two half steps or two adjacent keys on the piano. It is equivalent to two semitones.
Mickey Hansen

Mickey Hansen

Half Steps and Whole Steps

Imagine that you are sitting in front of a piano or a keyboard, and you play every single note, black or white, in order. You might play A-Bb-B-C-C#-D-Eb-E-F-F#-G-G#-A. This is called the . Notice that not all of the transitions have accidentals. For example, B# is enharmonically equivalent to C natural, and E# is enharmonically equivalent to F natural.

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2Fxblank_piano_keyboard_layout.png.pagespeed.ic-attT5jWrWQNS.png?alt=media&token=9d87c2e1-0b63-43a6-aa42-15c41919a433

(image via Yamaha)

A is special because all of the notes are a apart. In other words, these notes area right next to each other on the keyboard. For example, C is a away from C#, and E is a away from F.

A is just two half steps. C is a away from D, and E is a away from F#, for example.

Intervals

Naming Intervals

Another way to talk about half steps and whole steps is to consider them as intervals. In music, an interval is the distance between two pitches. A is a , and a is a major second.

Intervals can also be described in terms of their quality, which refers to the type of interval (major, minor, etc.) and their size, which refers to the number of pitch classes they span. For example, a "" is a perfect interval that spans seven pitch classes. The number (2nd, 3rd, 4th,...7th) comes from the space between the letters. For example, a C to E is a 3rd, an E to G is a 3rd, etc. Intervals are usually considered as spaces less than an octave, although sometimes, you will hear people talking about a 9th or a 10th. You usually won't hear people talking about a 22nd.

There are several types of intervals, including , , , , and .

If you are already familiar with major scales, an easy way to remember whether an interval is minor, major, perfect, etc. is to think about a . A has all , (e.g. M2, M3, M6, etc.) except for the 4th, 5th, and the octave, which are considered . For example, a C to an E is considered a major 3rd, but a C to a G is a perfect 5th. You usually don't say "perfect octave" or "perfect 8th" -- just "octave" is good enough.

Once you know the , a minor interval is one less than a major interval. So, if C to E is a major 3rd, then C to Eb is a minor 3rd. These don't necessarily correspond to the minor scale. C to Db is a minor 2nd, but C#/Db is not in the c minor sale. You cannot turn into . For example, you will not have a minor 5th or a minor 8th.

Augmented and are used less frequently than major and . You can augment or diminish . When you augment an interval, you add one to the major interval. For example, C to E# is an augmented 3rd. When you learn about voice leading in Unit 4, you will most likely talk about augmented 2nds and as things to avoid in part-writing.

A diminished interval takes a minor interval and takes away one . For example, a C to a E double flat would be a diminished 3rd. The most common diminished chords you will run into are (for example, C to B double flat) and (C to Gb).

are not as common as major or , but they can add tension and dissonance to music and are often used in jazz and other styles of music that incorporate more complex harmonies. Understanding and how they relate to other intervals is an important aspect of music theory.

Singing and Recognizing Intervals

The AP music theory exam will make you recognize intervals in two different contexts. First, you will hear a melody and you will have to notate the melody given a specific starting pitch. This means that you will have to recognize intervals by ear. The second situation is that you will have to sight sing a melody given a score. You will again be given the starting pitch, so you will have to be able to sing intervals with some degree of accuracy.

Depending on your current background in music, there are a few different ways you can practice for these. My favorite was singing on the do-re-mi scale. It is also helpful to think of specific songs that you are familiar with that use the intervals. Here is a list to start, but you should also do research and make your own!

IntervalSong
minor 2nd The Jaws theme song
Major 2nd "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer"
minor 3rd"This Old Man"
Major 3rd"Oh Where the Saints"
Perfect 4th"We Wish You a Merry Christmas"
diminished 5th"The Simpsons"
Perfect 5th"Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"
minor 6thChopin Waltz Op 64 No 2
Major 6th"My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean"
minor 7th"Pure Imagination" from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Major 7th"Take on Me"
Octave "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"

Consonant and Dissonant Intervals

Notice that the augmented 4th and diminished 5th are enharmonic to one another, meaning that it sounds the same when you play an augmented 4th and a diminished 5th. This specific interval has a special name in music theory, called the (since the notes are three whole steps apart) The was considered dissonant and unstable by many ancient cultures and was often avoided in music. Historically, many western European considered it the "devil's tone," and it was avoided in any type of religious music (which was most music at the time)

Despite its reputation as a dissonant interval, the has played a significant role in the development of Western music. In the Baroque period, composers such as J.S. Bach and George Frideric Handel used the to create tension and dissonance in their music, particularly in the use of dissonant chords and the use of chromaticism.

In the Romantic and modern periods, the became more widely used and accepted in music, with composers such as Richard Wagner and Igor Stravinsky incorporating it into their music. Today, the is an important interval in many styles of music and is used to create tension, dissonance, and other expressive effects.

Even if you don't have very strong feelings about the , you might notice that some intervals just don't sound good and they feel unsettling, while other notes sound good together - they feel settled and resolved. The intervals that create tension or instability are called dissonant intervals, and the intervals that create a sense of resolution or stability are called consonant intervals. Using dissonance is not always bad. In fact, good music usually requires you to write some dissonance to build tension before you resolve to consonant intervals and chords.

Consonant intervals are the octave, perfect 5th, and major and minor thirds and 6ths. Dissonant intervals are are the major and minor 2nds, the , major and minor sevenths, and any augmented or .

What about the perfect 4th? In short, it depends. In some contexts, the perfect 4th is very stable. However, in other contexts, the perfect 4th wants to resolve to the perfect 5th, so it is considered unstable and dissonant.

It is important to note that these definitions of consonance and dissonance were defined in western Europe, and they are taught here because they are relevant to the AP Music Theory Exam. Different cultures and musical traditions have different ideas about what is consonant and dissonant, and the use of consonance and dissonance can vary widely between different styles of music.

Key Terms to Review (17)

Augmented 4ths

: Augmented 4ths are intervals that consist of four whole steps. They are one half step larger than perfect 4ths.

Augmented Intervals

: Augmented intervals are one half step larger than a perfect or major interval. They have an expanded and "stretched" sound compared to their perfect or major counterparts.

Augmented Seconds

: Augmented seconds refer to intervals that span three half steps. They are larger than a minor third but smaller than a major third. Augmented seconds have a dissonant and tense sound.

Chromatic Scale

: The chromatic scale is a musical scale consisting of all twelve pitches within an octave. It includes both the white and black keys on the piano keyboard.

Diminished 5ths

: Diminished fifths are intervals that consist of six half steps. They are one half step smaller than perfect fifths.

Diminished 7ths

: Diminished 7ths are intervals that consist of six half steps. They are one half step smaller than minor 7ths.

Diminished intervals

: Diminished intervals are intervals that are one half step smaller than a perfect or major interval. They have a slightly "shrunk" sound compared to their perfect or major counterparts.

Half Step

: A half step is the smallest interval between two adjacent notes in Western music. It is equivalent to moving from one key on a piano keyboard to the very next key, regardless of whether it's black or white.

Major Intervals

: Major intervals are larger than minor intervals, spanning two whole steps or more. They have a bright and happy sound.

Major Scale

: A major scale is a sequence of seven different pitches that follows a specific pattern of whole and half steps. It has a bright and happy sound.

Minor Intervals

: Minor intervals are smaller than major intervals, spanning less than two whole steps. They have a sad or melancholic sound.

Minor Second

: A minor second is the smallest interval in Western music, consisting of two adjacent notes that are one half step apart.

Minor Third

: A minor third refers to an interval between two pitches that spans three half steps. It creates a slightly tense or sad sound.

Perfect Fifth

: A perfect fifth is an interval consisting of seven semitones (or half steps) that creates a strong, stable, and consonant sound.

Perfect Intervals

: Perfect intervals are consonant and stable sounding musical distances between two notes that do not need any alteration. They have a balanced and harmonious quality.

Tritone

: The tritone is an interval consisting of three whole steps or six half steps. It creates dissonance and tension in music.

Whole step

: A whole step is a musical interval that spans two half steps or two adjacent keys on the piano. It is equivalent to two semitones.


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AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.


© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.