Semitone (Noun)
Meaning
The musical interval between adjacent keys on a keyboard instrument.
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- On a standard keyboard instrument, moving one key to the right or left changes the pitch by a semitone.
- Moving up one semitone from C brings you to C sharp or D flat on the keyboard.
- Since there are 12 semitones within an octave, the keyboard layout repeats itself after every 12 keys.
- Adjacent keys on the keyboard that are next to each other with no black key in between represent a semitone difference of one sharp or flat.
- A musician who's proficient in keyboard instruments can recognize music intervals and easily identify a semitone as they play.