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Whole step

Definition

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.

Analogy

Think of a whole step as taking a big leap from one note to another, skipping over the note in between. It's like jumping from one stepping stone to another without touching the one in the middle.

Related terms

Half step: A half step is the smallest interval in Western music, equivalent to one semitone. It is the distance between any two adjacent keys on a piano, regardless of their color (black or white).

Major scale: A major scale consists of seven notes and follows a specific pattern of whole steps and half steps.

Chromatic scale: A chromatic scale includes all twelve pitches within an octave, moving by half steps.



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© 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.