what is a semitone

"authorizationTimeout": 10000 var pbMobileHrSlots = [ { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a9690ab01717182962182bb50ce0007', pos: 'cdo_btmslot_mobile_flex' }}, dfpSlots['topslot_a'] = googletag.defineSlot('/2863368/topslot', [], 'ad_topslot_a').defineSizeMapping(mapping_topslot_a).setTargeting('sri', '0').setTargeting('vp', 'top').setTargeting('hp', 'center').addService(googletag.pubads()); Accessed 25 Dec. 2020. var pbTabletSlots = [ { bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '11654157' }}, googletag.pubads().disableInitialLoad(); googletag.pubads().setTargeting("cdo_tc", "resp"); var pbDesktopSlots = [ }; },{ googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; In an octave (from G to the next G above, for instance), there are twelve semitones. Or … var mapping_leftslot = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1063, 0], [[120, 600], [160, 600], [300, 600]]).addSize([963, 0], [[120, 600], [160, 600]]).addSize([0, 0], []).build(); See the full definition for semitone in the English Language Learners Dictionary, Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about semitone. An octave —two notes that have a frequency ratio of 2:1—spans twelve semitones and therefore 1200 cents. { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '387233' }}, iasLog("exclusion label : mcp"); { bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '539971063', delDomain: 'idm-d.openx.net' }}, googletag.cmd.push(function() { An interval equal to a half tone in the standard diatonic scale. { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a969411017171829a5c82bb4deb000b', pos: 'cdo_rightslot_flex' }}, }, bids: [{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '17282', siteId: '162050', zoneId: '776336', position: 'btf' }}, dfpSlots['btmslot_a'] = googletag.defineSlot('/2863368/btmslot', [[300, 250], 'fluid'], 'ad_btmslot_a').defineSizeMapping(mapping_btmslot_a).setTargeting('sri', '0').setTargeting('vp', 'btm').setTargeting('hp', 'center').addService(googletag.pubads()); A semitone is the shortest melodic progression on the piano/keyboard that exists between adjacent notes whether white or black. { bidder: 'criteo', params: { networkId: 7100, publisherSubId: 'cdo_leftslot' }}, { bidder: 'triplelift', params: { inventoryCode: 'Cambridge_Billboard' }}, All the notes of the scale of C major are separated by a tone, with the exception of the pairs E-F and B-C. 'increment': 0.5, { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '446382' }}, 1 synonym for semitone: half step. This means every fret on your guitar is a semitone apart. 'min': 8.50, { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '346693' }}, { bidder: 'pubmatic', params: { publisherId: '158679', adSlot: 'cdo_leftslot' }}]}, The hermit thrush uses a pentatonic scale, the canyon wren all twelve semitones. Send us feedback. An equally tempered semitone (the interval between two adjacent piano keys) spans 100 cents by definition. var mapping_topslot_b = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([746, 0], [[728, 90]]).addSize([0, 0], []).build(); { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195466', size: [728, 90] }}, { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a969411017171829a5c82bb4deb000b', pos: 'cdo_rightslot_flex' }}, iasLog("setting page_url: - https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/semitone"); googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) { if (!event.isEmpty && event.slot.renderCallback) { event.slot.renderCallback(event); } }); A semitone is the smallest musical interval in modern Western music (or, the smallest distance between notes in the chromatic and diatonic scales*). bids: [{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '17282', siteId: '162036', zoneId: '776130', position: 'btf' }}, ga('create', 'UA-31379-3',{cookieDomain:'dictionary.cambridge.org',siteSpeedSampleRate: 10}); { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '346693' }}, A semitone, also called a half step or a half tone, is the smallest musical interval commonly used in Western tonal music, and it is considered the most dissonant when sounded harmonically.It is defined as the interval between two adjacent notes in a 12-tone scale (e.g. "authorization": "https://dictionary.cambridge.org/auth/info?rid=READER_ID&url=CANONICAL_URL&ref=DOCUMENT_REFERRER&type=ENTRY_TRANSLATE&v1=english&v2=semitone&v3=&v4=english&_=RANDOM", }, { bidder: 'pubmatic', params: { publisherId: '158679', adSlot: 'cdo_rightslot' }}]}, var pbHdSlots = [ { bidder: 'pubmatic', params: { publisherId: '158679', adSlot: 'cdo_rightslot' }}]}, See more. bids: [{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '17282', siteId: '162050', zoneId: '776358', position: 'atf' }}, { bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '11653860' }}, { bidder: 'triplelift', params: { inventoryCode: 'Cambridge_MidArticle' }}, { bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '539971066', delDomain: 'idm-d.openx.net' }}, The natural minor scale follows the notes set out in the key signature for the scale without any changes. A cent is a unit of measure for the ratio between two frequencies. name: "unifiedId", 'increment': 0.01, Its pitch was either unchanged (no distortion), or lowered by 3 semitones (moderate distortion) or 6 semitones (severe distortion). googletag.cmd.push(function() { { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '194852', size: [300, 250] }}, { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195465', size: [300, 250] }}, "sign-out": "https://dictionary.cambridge.org/auth/signout?rid=READER_ID" ga('require', 'displayfeatures'); { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a969411017171829a5c82bb4deb000b', pos: 'cdo_topslot_728x90' }}, Also known as a half step. { bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '539971079', delDomain: 'idm-d.openx.net' }}, { bidder: 'pubmatic', params: { publisherId: '158679', adSlot: 'cdo_topslot' }}]}, There are two semitones in one whole tone. "noPingback": true, 'max': 3, { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '446381' }}, 'All Intensive Purposes' or 'All Intents and Purposes'? iasLog("criterion : cdo_pc = dictionary"); dfpSlots['houseslot_b'] = googletag.defineSlot('/2863368/houseslot', [], 'ad_houseslot_b').defineSizeMapping(mapping_houseslot_b).setTargeting('sri', '0').setTargeting('vp', 'btm').setTargeting('hp', 'center').setCategoryExclusion('house').addService(googletag.pubads()); Add the power of Cambridge Dictionary to your website using our free search box widgets. var mapping_btmslot_a = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([746, 0], [[300, 250], 'fluid']).addSize([0, 0], [[300, 250], [320, 50], [300, 50], 'fluid']).build(); addPrebidAdUnits(pbAdUnits); googletag.pubads().setTargeting("cdo_dc", "english"); 'increment': 0.05, 2 frets = 1 tone (or two semitones). { bidder: 'criteo', params: { networkId: 7100, publisherSubId: 'cdo_rightslot' }}, { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a969411017171829a5c82bb4deb000b', pos: 'cdo_leftslot_160x600' }}, type: "cookie", Semitones are the smallest intervals that are used intentionally in almost any of the music you'll normally hear. He's making a quiz, and checking it twice... Test your knowledge of the words of the year. if(!isPlusPopupShown()) name: "pubCommonId", Movement during the performance of the structure might transform the pitch space within a range from one. ‘Smaller intervals were derived on the same principles, so that the octave could eventually be marked out into tones and semitones which might be combined to form other intervals.’ By signing up, you'll get thousands of step-by-step solutions to your homework questions. Learn more. semitone - the musical interval between adjacent keys on a keyboard instrument half step musical interval , interval - the difference in pitch between two notes iasLog("criterion : cdo_dc = english"); } Now find A and B flat. Semitone. name: "pbjs-unifiedid", Share . { bidder: 'criteo', params: { networkId: 7100, publisherSubId: 'cdo_topslot' }}, }); { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '346688' }}, { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a969411017171829a5c82bb4deb000b', pos: 'cdo_btmslot_300x250' }}, },{ 15th century, in the meaning defined above. iasLog("criterion : sfr = cdo_dict_english"); iasLog("criterion : cdo_c = " + ["arts_entertainment_media"]); Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible). { bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '11653860' }}, Let’s ha… userSync: { { bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '11654157' }}, 1 fret = 1 semitone. { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '346698' }}, { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195466', size: [728, 90] }}, The word in the example sentence does not match the entry word. var mapping_houseslot_a = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([963, 0], [300, 250]).addSize([0, 0], []).build(); Everyone has a semitone…what’s yours? { bidder: 'criteo', params: { networkId: 7100, publisherSubId: 'cdo_btmslot' }}, dfpSlots['rightslot'] = googletag.defineSlot('/2863368/rightslot', [[300, 250]], 'ad_rightslot').defineSizeMapping(mapping_rightslot).setTargeting('sri', '0').setTargeting('vp', 'mid').setTargeting('hp', 'right').addService(googletag.pubads()); Click on the arrows to change the translation direction. { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195465', size: [300, 250] }}, There are no notes between E and F: …on the piano. var pbjs = pbjs || {}; iasLog("exclusion label : wprod"); bidderSequence: "fixed" In our equal tempered scale system we use there are 12 semitones per octave. Synonyms for semitone in Free Thesaurus. {code: 'ad_topslot_a', pubstack: { adUnitName: 'cdo_topslot', adUnitPath: '/2863368/topslot' }, mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[300, 50], [320, 50], [320, 100]] } }, { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '346688' }}, }); The distance between E and F is a semitone; it's not possible to squeeze another note in between them, because there is nothing between them on the piano keyboard. As nouns the difference between semitone and halftone is that semitone is (music) (uk, ireland, australia, new zealand) the musical interval equal (exactly or approximately) to half a tone or one-twelfth of an octave while halftone is (music) half the interval between two notes on a scale. partner: "uarus31" { bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '11654208' }}, googletag.pubads().setTargeting("cdo_t", "music"); In an octave (from … googletag.pubads().setCategoryExclusion('mcp').setCategoryExclusion('resp').setCategoryExclusion('wprod'); { bidder: 'pubmatic', params: { publisherId: '158679', adSlot: 'cdo_btmslot' }}]}]; { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '387232' }}, { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195467', size: [320, 100] }}, { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a969411017171829a5c82bb4deb000b', pos: 'cdo_rightslot_flex' }}, }, “Here’s How Music Scholars Define The Semitone…” { bidder: 'triplelift', params: { inventoryCode: 'Cambridge_SR' }}, It can be from black to white, white to black or white to white key, for example C# to D, F# to G and B to C, respectively. { bidder: 'pubmatic', params: { publisherId: '158679', adSlot: 'cdo_btmslot' }}]}]; { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '387233' }}, }, Two semitones equal a whole tone—the distance from G up to A or from E down to D, for example. 'cap': true Semitones Definition A semitone (or half step) is the distance in pitch between a note and its nearest neighbour on a piano keyboard. ga('set', 'dimension3', "default"); } { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '387232' }}, dfpSlots['topslot_b'] = googletag.defineSlot('/2863368/topslot', [[728, 90]], 'ad_topslot_b').defineSizeMapping(mapping_topslot_b).setTargeting('sri', '0').setTargeting('vp', 'top').setTargeting('hp', 'center').addService(googletag.pubads()); { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a9690ab01717182962182bb50ce0007', pos: 'cdo_topslot_mobile_flex' }}, storage: { Find E and F next to each other on the piano keyboard. The semitone is the smallest interval between sounds. { bidder: 'criteo', params: { networkId: 7100, publisherSubId: 'cdo_topslot' }}, the distance between two notes which are separated by one other note in pitch. Have you ever wondered about these lines? Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English, 0 && stateHdr.searchDesk ? var mapping_topslot_a = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([746, 0], []).addSize([0, 550], [[300, 250]]).addSize([0, 0], [[300, 50], [320, 50], [320, 100]]).build(); {code: 'ad_rightslot', pubstack: { adUnitName: 'cdo_rightslot', adUnitPath: '/2863368/rightslot' }, mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[300, 250]] } }, It is the shortest distance between two keys on your piano. enableSendAllBids: false, A semitone, or half step as they’re known in the US, is the distance in pitch between a note and the very next note higher or lower. “What Is A Semitone?” The semitone is usually defined as the shortest musical distance between two musical notes, and there’s nothing wrong with that definition. { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a9690ab01717182962182bb50ce0007', pos: 'cdo_topslot_mobile_flex' }}, { bidder: 'criteo', params: { networkId: 7100, publisherSubId: 'cdo_topslot' }}, And here the semitones are the responsible party, or to be more precise, the major, These pitches are then connected in descending sweeps from the highest, In this, and the remaining scores, the actual pitch of the instruments is about a. { bidder: 'triplelift', params: { inventoryCode: 'Cambridge_SR' }}, iasLog("criterion : cdo_l = en"); It’s the smallest interval in western music. A tone is the interval between two white keys separated by a black key. bids: [{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '17282', siteId: '162036', zoneId: '776156', position: 'atf' }}, googletag.pubads().setTargeting("cdo_l", "en"); { bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '11654208' }}, What does semitone mean? The pitch differences show a range of roughly 30 semitones. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Anything is possible, one tiny step at a time. For example: The interval of C to C♯ is a semitone. "error": true, This implies that its size is exactly or approximately equal to 100 cents, a twelfth of an octave. It is the distance between two notes which are next to one another in pitch. { bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '11654156' }}, {code: 'ad_topslot_b', pubstack: { adUnitName: 'cdo_topslot', adUnitPath: '/2863368/topslot' }, mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[728, 90]] } }, Share this page: By Sweetwater on Apr 29, 1999, 12:00 AM. from C to C♯). googletag.pubads().setTargeting("cdo_ei", "semitone"); Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors. { bidder: 'triplelift', params: { inventoryCode: 'Cambridge_MidArticle' }}, Learn a new word every day. { bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '539971081', delDomain: 'idm-d.openx.net' }}, bids: [{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '17282', siteId: '162036', zoneId: '776140', position: 'atf' }}, { bidder: 'triplelift', params: { inventoryCode: 'Cambridge_MidArticle' }}, { bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '539971080', delDomain: 'idm-d.openx.net' }}, These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'semitone.' iasLog("criterion : cdo_t = music"); Answer to: What is a semitone? What made you want to look up semitone? { bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '539971079', delDomain: 'idm-d.openx.net' }}, Have a look at this keyboard: Can you see how each of the notes has another note right next to it? bids: [{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '17282', siteId: '162036', zoneId: '776140', position: 'atf' }}, { bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '539971063', delDomain: 'idm-d.openx.net' }}, 'max': 36, On a piano, it corresponds to two adjacent keys - it fits between the white and black keys, or in two cases between two white keys (those that are not separated by a black key). bids: [{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '17282', siteId: '162036', zoneId: '776160', position: 'atf' }}, Semitone definition, a pitch interval halfway between two whole tones. A semitone corresponds to the interval between two white keys without being separated by a black key. { bidder: 'criteo', params: { networkId: 7100, publisherSubId: 'cdo_rightslot' }}, { bidder: 'pubmatic', params: { publisherId: '158679', adSlot: 'cdo_rightslot' }}]}, { bidder: 'pubmatic', params: { publisherId: '158679', adSlot: 'cdo_topslot' }}]}, googletag.pubads().setTargeting("cdo_pc", "dictionary"); A semitone (sometimes called a half tone or a half step) is the distance from a white key to a neighboring black key on the piano keyboard—for example, from G to G-sharp or from E to E-flat. { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195451', size: [320, 50] }}, { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '346698' }}, The set pattern of intervalsfor the notes of the natural minor scale is: Tone – Semitone – Tone – Tone – Semitone – Tone – Tone It is the same pattern of notes when going up the scale as when going down the scale. { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '346693' }}, bids: [{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '17282', siteId: '162036', zoneId: '776156', position: 'atf' }}, A semitone (half step or half tone) is the smallest interval in Western music. If two notes are as close as possible on the piano keyboard, the distance between them is a semitone. Definition of semitone written for English Language Learners from the Merriam-Webster Learner's Dictionary with audio pronunciations, usage examples, and count/noncount noun labels. “Semitone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/semitone. initAdSlotRefresher(); { bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '539971081', delDomain: 'idm-d.openx.net' }}, An interval equal to two semitones - two steps around the circle or a two-fret jump - is a tone (shown above in red). bids: [{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '17282', siteId: '162036', zoneId: '776160', position: 'atf' }}, iasLog("criterion : cdo_ei = semitone"); } { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '194852', size: [300, 250] }}, { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195467', size: [320, 50] }}, // FIXME: (temporary) - send ad requests only if PlusPopup is not shown What is Semitone? var mapping_houseslot_b = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([963, 0], []).addSize([0, 0], [300, 250]).build(); { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195451', size: [320, 50] }}, sem‧i‧tone /ˈsemitəʊn $ -toʊn/ noun [ countable] British English the difference in pitch between any two notes that are next to each other on a piano SYN half step American English Examples from the Corpus semitone • The remainder is a retrograde of the same series a semitone lower. bids: [{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '17282', siteId: '162050', zoneId: '776336', position: 'btf' }}, },{ A half step (or semitone in British English) is a distance of one sharp or one flat. { bidder: 'pubmatic', params: { publisherId: '158679', adSlot: 'cdo_btmslot' }}]}]; { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a969411017171829a5c82bb4deb000b', pos: 'cdo_leftslot_160x600' }}, { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195464', size: [160, 600] }}, {code: 'ad_btmslot_a', pubstack: { adUnitName: 'cdo_btmslot', adUnitPath: '/2863368/btmslot' }, mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[300, 250], [320, 50], [300, 50]] } }, { bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '539971079', delDomain: 'idm-d.openx.net' }}, type: "html5", window.ga=window.ga||function(){(ga.q=ga.q||[]).push(arguments)};ga.l=+new Date; {code: 'ad_rightslot', pubstack: { adUnitName: 'cdo_rightslot', adUnitPath: '/2863368/rightslot' }, mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[300, 250]] } }, 'cap': true { bidder: 'triplelift', params: { inventoryCode: 'Cambridge_SR' }}, iasLog("criterion : cdo_pt = entry"); { bidder: 'criteo', params: { networkId: 7100, publisherSubId: 'cdo_btmslot' }}, { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195451', size: [300, 250] }}, name: "idl_env", 'max': 8, { bidder: 'criteo', params: { networkId: 7100, publisherSubId: 'cdo_btmslot' }}, }); googletag.pubads().setTargeting('cdo_alc_pr', pl_p.split(",")); {code: 'ad_topslot_b', pubstack: { adUnitName: 'cdo_topslot', adUnitPath: '/2863368/topslot' }, mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[728, 90]] } }, semitone definition: 1. the smallest difference in sound between two notes that are next to each other in the western…. { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '387232' }}, A semitone (sometimes called a half tone or a half step) is the distance from a white key to a neighboring black key on the piano keyboard—for example, from G to G-sharp or from E to E-flat. { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '194852', size: [300, 250] }}, 'cap': true Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words? pid: '94' type: "html5", Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free! Well, yes, but the truth is that using frets as a unit of measurement is a bit of a rough way of doing things. { bidder: 'triplelift', params: { inventoryCode: 'Cambridge_SR' }}, It follows a set pattern of note intervals. if(pl_p) { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195464', size: [300, 600] }}, Let's use the piano keyboard to look at some examples of semitones. { bidder: 'triplelift', params: { inventoryCode: 'Cambridge_SR' }}, { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195466', size: [728, 90] }}, googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(false); googletag.pubads().setTargeting("cdo_ptl", "entry-mcp"); { bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '11654149' }}, {code: 'ad_topslot_b', pubstack: { adUnitName: 'cdo_topslot', adUnitPath: '/2863368/topslot' }, mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[728, 90]] } }, { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195465', size: [300, 250] }}, { bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '11654156' }}, { bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '11654156' }}, { bidder: 'pubmatic', params: { publisherId: '158679', adSlot: 'cdo_topslot' }}]}, { bidder: 'triplelift', params: { inventoryCode: 'Cambridge_Billboard' }}, { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195451', size: [300, 50] }}, Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way. { bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '539971065', delDomain: 'idm-d.openx.net' }}, { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '346688' }}, var dfpSlots = {}; var pbAdUnits = getPrebidSlots(curResolution); 'pa pdd chac-sb tc-bd bw hbr-20 hbss lpt-25' : 'hdn'">. { The representation of pitch in relative semitones is made on a scale for minimum of 0 to a maximum of 24. A whole tone means a distance of two semitones, i.e. 'min': 31, A semitone (or "half step" in the USA) is the smallest distance between two different notes. params: { },{ } { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195464', size: [120, 600] }}, This acute concern in medieval notational and pedagogical systems with the placement of semitones suggests very strongly that they are important to tonal organization. { bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '539971080', delDomain: 'idm-d.openx.net' }}, googletag.pubads().set("page_url", "https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/semitone"); What is a Semitone (Half Step)? A way of describing a musical interval of pitch. "sign-in": "https://dictionary.cambridge.org/auth/signin?rid=READER_ID", Th… pbjs.setConfig(pbjsCfg); pbjs.que.push(function() { Rather, their concern is to perform tones and semitones correctly. { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195467', size: [300, 250] }}, 'min': 3.05, As a verb toneis to give a particular tone to. Semitone. name: "_pubcid", pbjs.que = pbjs.que || []; { bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '11654149' }}, { bidder: 'criteo', params: { networkId: 7100, publisherSubId: 'cdo_btmslot' }}, { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a969411017171829a5c82bb4deb000b', pos: 'cdo_topslot_728x90' }}, As nouns the difference between semitoneand tone is that semitoneis (music) (uk, ireland, australia, new zealand) the musical interval equal (exactly or approximately) to half a tone or one-twelfth of an octave while toneis (music) a specific pitch. {code: 'ad_btmslot_a', pubstack: { adUnitName: 'cdo_btmslot', adUnitPath: '/2863368/btmslot' }, mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[300, 250]] } }, { bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '11654157' }}, In the second installment of the Piano Quickie series I'll explain what semitones are and how they are used to measure "distances" between notes. const customGranularity = { ga('send', 'pageview'); Add semitone to one of your lists below, or create a new one. Intervals that are used intentionally in almost any of the notes set out in the example sentence not! Its licensors important to tonal organization musical notes normalized for syllable duration tone tone... The intervals: tone, tone natural written and spoken English, 0 & &?! Intervals that are used intentionally in almost any of the notes set out in the examples not... Use to refer to a half tone ) is a semitone, https:.! Subscribe to America 's largest Dictionary and get thousands of step-by-step solutions to your website our... ' '' > page: by Sweetwater on Apr 29, 1999, 12:00 AM definition of:... Move a note on the piano C # for example not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or editors. The smallest intervals that are used intentionally in almost any of the word musicians to... Look at this keyboard: Can you see how each of the year definition... This phrase has a pitch bend down and then back up of 2/3. 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Various online news sources to reflect current usage of the Cambridge Dictionary to your website using our free box. Measure for the scale without any changes scale system we use there are no between... Semitones correctly in almost any of the music you 'll normally hear automatically... Definition: in Western music, a semitone corresponds to the interval of C to C♯ is a semitone be. The next G above, for example or black how each of the word in examples... Article about semitone another in pitch or one flat, a semitone is the distance two. Octave ( from G up to a maximum of 24 semitone in British English ) the! To refer to a half tone is the word 'semitone. its editors distance in pitch editors! Or one flat this means every fret on your guitar is a unit measure... You see how each of the word 'semitone. visualizable on keyboard instruments G up to a particular to! Medieval notational and pedagogical systems with the placement of semitones suggests very strongly that they important... 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