Whole Steps & half steps
Theory Things
William Wieland
half step (
½
) — the smallest interval (pitch distance) on a piano, e.g. C to C sharp (adjacent keys)
Whole Step (
W
) — 2 half steps, e.g. C to D
Where are the half steps?
Major 5-finger Pattern
:
W W ½ W
3
-
4
Major Scale
:
W W ½ W W W ½
3
-
4
7
-
8
Minor 5-finger Pattern
:
W ½ W W
2
-
3
Natural Minor Scale
:
W ½ W W ½ W W
2
-
3
5
-
6
Harmonic Minor Scale
:
W ½ W W ½ 1½ ½
2
-
3
5
-
6
7
-
8
Melodic Minor Scale
:
Ascending
:
W ½ W W W W ½
2
-
3
7
-
8
Descending
:
See natural minor.
Whole Tone Scale
:
W W W ...
(all whole steps)
Nowhere
Only 2 whole tone scales exist.
Chromatic Scale
:
½ ½ ½ ...
(all half steps)
Everywhere
Only 1 chromatic scale exists.