Half Steps
Definition
Half steps are the smallest intervals used in Western music theory. They refer to moving from one pitch to its immediate neighbor on a keyboard or fretboard.
Analogy
Think of half steps like taking small baby steps while walking. Each small step you take is a half step, and it allows you to move smoothly from one pitch to the next.
Related terms
Pitch Level: Pitch level refers to the perceived highness or lowness of a sound and is determined by frequency.
Intervallic Structure: Intervallic structure refers to the relationship between two pitches in terms of their distance apart, helping determine whether an interval is major, minor, perfect, augmented, or diminished.
Whole Steps: Whole steps are double the size of half steps and consist of skipping one key on a keyboard or two adjacent frets on a guitar.
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