noun
- plural of semitone; the smallest intervals between adjacent notes in Western music, equal to half a tone
Usage: music theory
Examples
- The chromatic scale consists of twelve semitones within an octave.
- Moving up two semitones from C gives you the note D.
- Jazz musicians often use semitones to create tension in their melodies.
- The interval between E and F is one of the natural semitones on a piano.
- She practiced playing scales with all the semitones included.
- Understanding semitones is essential for learning music theory.