Tones And Semitones

Explore Tones and Semitones With The Note Circle!

So far, we talked about steps around the note circle. The proper name for these steps is SEMITONE. A semitone is the smallest step around the note circle and is the same as one fret step on the guitar—from one fret to its neighbor in either direction!

Another common interval (distance between notes) is a TONE, the same as two semitones.

Tones and semitones work the same UP or DOWN.

On the Note Circle

A tone jump would be the same as two semitone steps or two steps around the note circle. You should be able to look into the Note Circle and answer questions like:

• How far is it from C to D?
• What about G to A?
• What about C to B?

Interestingly, some white notes are only a semitone apart!

On Piano

On piano, you are just counting the steps! Neighboring notes are semitones; if there is a gap, it's a tone.

There are no black notes between B & C or E & F. If you struggle to remember which notes are just a semitone apart, you might like to use the pneumonic: Big Cats Eat Frogs!

On Guitar

Tones and semitones are super easy to play on guitar. Semitones are on neighboring frets, and tones have an empty fret between them.

 

Summary Points

• Semitones are one step around the note circle.
   
• Tones are two steps around the note circle.
   
• Some white notes on the piano are only a semitone apart: B and C and E and F.

 

👉 Note Circle—it's time to memorize it!