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Whole and half steps
One more look at what you missed.
A half step is one semitone: the very next key.
Black or white, the key right next door is a half step away. It is the minor 2nd you already know.
A whole step is two semitones: skip one key.
From C, skip the black key and land on D. It is the major 2nd you already know.
Listen to a half step, then a whole step.
The half step is tight, almost rubbing. The whole step simply walks up.
No sound? Check your volume, and that your phone is not on silent.
Play E then F, and C then D.
No black key sits between E and F. C and D have one between them.
E up to F: half step or whole step?
Among the white keys, only E–F and B–C are half steps.
Every other pair of neighbouring white keys has a black key between them. So every other pair is a whole step.
B up to C: how far is it?
Now by ear. The buttons use the interval names.
Minor 2nd is the half step. Major 2nd is the whole step.
The half step is the tighter one, the minor 2nd.
You know whole and half steps.
What you learned
- A half step is one semitone; a whole step is two.
- Among the white keys, only E–F and B–C are half steps.
- By ear, the half step sounds tighter than the whole step.
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