Music theory definition

Whole step

Two half steps - skipping exactly one key. Also called a tone.

Hear an example

Play the example and listen for the idea described above.

= two . Skip exactly one .

This term is introduced in Unit 1: Sound and pitch. Work through the explanations and exercises to connect the definition with music.

Half steps, whole steps, sharps and flats
The two smallest distances in music, and the names of the black keys.

Half step: The smallest distance on a piano: from one key to the very next key, black or white. Also called a semitone.
Keyboard: The row of white and black keys on a piano. Press a key to make a sound; keys farther right sound higher.
Fret: One of the metal strips across a guitar neck. Moving up by one fret raises a note by one half step.
Fretboard: The front of a guitar, bass, or ukulele neck, where you press strings to choose notes.
Piano key: One of the white or black pieces you press on a piano to make a sound. This is different from a musical key, such as C major.
Vibration: A quick back-and-forth movement that makes sound. A piano string vibrates when you press a key.