Now you know all 12 notes and how octaves work. The next step is measuring the distance between two notes using semitones and tones - like tablespoons and cups in a recipe.
The semitone - the smallest step
A semitone (also called a "half step") is the smallest distance between two notes. On a piano, it's the very next key - whether that's white to black or white to white.
C to C# - one semitone apart
The tone - two semitones
A tone (also called a "whole step") equals two semitones. Skip one key and land on the next. It's a bigger jump with a noticeably different feel.
C to D - one tone apart (C# is skipped)
Counting semitones
Semitones are the universal ruler of music. Any distance between two notes can be described as a number of semitones. This is how scales, chords, and intervals are defined.
Common distances from C
Don't worry about memorising interval names yet - they come up again in the chords and progressions topic. Just notice how the number of semitones defines each distance.
Walking up in semitones
If you play every single key from C up to the next C, you walk through all 12 semitones. This is called the chromatic scale - it uses every ingredient in the pantry without skipping any.
The chromatic scale - every semitone from C4 to C5
Most music doesn't use all 12 notes at once. Scales pick a subset - usually 7 - by choosing specific semitone and tone steps. That's exactly what the major scale pattern does (tone, tone, semitone, tone, tone, tone, semitone).
Why steps matter for production
When you choose a key and scale in a tool like Starts, you're really choosing a pattern of semitone and tone steps. Understanding these steps means understanding why certain notes sound good together and others clash.
Key takeaway
A semitone is the smallest step (one key). A tone is two semitones (skip one key). All distances in music boil down to counting semitones. The chromatic scale uses all 12. Most scales select 7 with a specific pattern of tones and semitones.
Next: how computers represent all of this with a simple numbering system - MIDI notes.
See step patterns in scales
Pick different scales in Starts and notice how the tone/semitone pattern changes.