An interval is the distance between two notes. In this lesson, we will only learn about the half and whole step intervals.
Imagine a piano. The distance from B to C is a half step because no other notes fall between them. The distance from A to B, however, is a whole step because it consists of two half steps.
Imagine a piano. The distance from B to C is a half step because no other notes fall between them. The distance from A to B, however, is a whole step because it consists of two half steps.
Natural Occurring Half Steps (NOHS)
Each note is a certain distance apart from the next, and they form a pattern that repeats. There are two naturally occuring half steps. In the key of C Major, those two half steps are between B & C and E & F.
Each note is a certain distance apart from the next, and they form a pattern that repeats. There are two naturally occuring half steps. In the key of C Major, those two half steps are between B & C and E & F.
Accidentals
Accidentals raise or lower notes by half steps.
# - sharp - raises the pitch 1 half step
b - flat - lowers the pitch 1 half step
The interval between E and F is a naturally occuring half step, but if we raised F to F#, we then make the distance further apart. The distance between E and F# is now a whole step because it consists of two half steps (E to F and F to F#).
Accidentals raise or lower notes by half steps.
# - sharp - raises the pitch 1 half step
b - flat - lowers the pitch 1 half step
The interval between E and F is a naturally occuring half step, but if we raised F to F#, we then make the distance further apart. The distance between E and F# is now a whole step because it consists of two half steps (E to F and F to F#).
The interval between B and C is also a naturally occuring half step. If we lower the B to B flat, we make the interval larger by increasing the distance between the two notes by half step, which now makes the interval a whole step.
Enharmonic Spelling - same pitch, different note names
Several notes share the same pitch but have different names. For example, A flat is the same pitch as G sharp, and C sharp is the same pitch as D flat. Typically, you would call the half step between C and D a C sharp if there is a C sharp in the key signature or a D flat if there is a D flat in the key signature.
Several notes share the same pitch but have different names. For example, A flat is the same pitch as G sharp, and C sharp is the same pitch as D flat. Typically, you would call the half step between C and D a C sharp if there is a C sharp in the key signature or a D flat if there is a D flat in the key signature.
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Reference: Intervals (Part 1) Whole and Half Steps. 2012. Retrieved from http://www.musictheoryfundamentals.com/MusicTheory/intervals_part1.php