What does semitone mean?
A semitone is a musical interval equal to half a whole tone. In the standard Western twelve-tone equal-tempered system, an octave is divided into twelve equal semitones, each worth 100 cents, and these intervals correspond to the steps between adjacent notes of a chromatic scale. In other tuning systems, the sizes of individual intervals may vary, but “semitone” continues to identify the small interval of half a tone. The word is especially useful when discussing melodies, chords, tuning, transposition, and the relationships between closely spaced pitches. A piece can move a semitone higher or lower, and musicians may describe a performance as being sharp or flat by a semitone. Although “half step” is particularly familiar in American English, “semitone” is the more broadly international musical term.
nounA semitone is the musical interval equal to half a whole tone. In twelve-tone equal temperament, it is one of the twelve equal divisions of an octave, measured as 100 cents.
- A musical interval equal to half a whole tone, especially one of the twelve equal intervals of an octave in twelve-tone equal temperament.
"The melody rises by a semitone at the end of the phrase."
"The singer missed the note by only a semitone."
"In the opening theme, the brass section enters a semitone above the main melody."
The standard plural of semitone.
"The tuning changes were measured in semitones."
The distance from C to C♯, or from E to F, is one of music's smallest standard steps.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
How semitone is actually used
The term is standard in both British and American English. “Semitone” is the general musical term, while “half step” is especially common in American musical contexts.
Easily confused with semitone
A tone is a larger musical interval, while a semitone is half of a tone.