## Half Steps A **half step** is the shortest distance between two keys on the [[Piano Keyboard]]: from one key to very next key, above or below it. **Example 1** below shows two half steps: one from B to C and another from E to F. These two half steps, B–C and E–F are the only half steps that occur between white keys. For this reason, I like to call them **white-key half steps**. **Example 1.** Piano keyboard showing half steps B–C and E–F. ![[half steps and whole steps example 1.png]] ## Whole Steps A **whole step** is the distance between two keys that are two half steps apart. **Example 2** below shows the whole steps F–G and C–D. Note that for each whole step there is an intervening black key between the two white keys. There are a total of 5 white-key whole steps: C–D, D–E, F–G, G–A, and A–B. **Example 2.** Piano keyboard showing whole steps F–G and C–D. ![[half steps and whole steps example 2.png]] ## The Black Keys Now that we understand half steps and whole steps, we can label the black keys on the keyboard using [[Accidentals]]. ## Types of Half Steps When it comes to constructing [[Scales]], it can be helpful to differentiate between two different types of half steps: diatonic and chromatic. ### Diatonic Half Step A **diatonic half step** is one in which the notes are spelt using different letter names, such as F and G♭ in **Example 3** below. ### Chromatic Half Step A **chromatic half step** is one in which the notes are spelt using the same letter names, such as F and F♯ in **Example 3** below. **Example 3.** Diatonic and chromatic half steps. ![[half steps and whole steps example 3.png]] As shown in **Example 3** above, both F–G♭ and F–F♯ are half steps and are the same distance apart on the [[Piano Keyboard]]. However, they comprise different distances on the [[Staff]]. The difference may seem trivial at first; however, it's important to note that the [[Major Scale]] employs only the diatonic half step and not the chromatic half step.