Piano Quickie 2: Semitones Explained

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• published: 01 Nov 2013
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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. For the full Piano Quickie playlist, click here: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLP9cbwDiLzdKY0kV1hPE4zNosvz_Ur7wD The Piano Quickie series is aimed at beginning musicians who want to get a grasp of the fundamental points of music theory: notes, intervals, chords, chord inversions, scales and so forth. Made of short but richly illustrated piano lessons and tutorials, this series is ideal for teaching the basics of piano theory and playing without becoming overwhelming on the one hand, or too slow and boring on the other. Semitones Explained What is a semitone? A semitone is the "distance" between two adjacent keys on the piano, black keys included. So, for example the distance between C and C# is one semitone. The distance between E and F is one semitone. The distance between G and Ab is one semitone, and so forth. Examples of Semitones The distance between C and E is four semitones: C to Db to D to Db to E The distance between F and G is two semitones: F to Gb to G From Wikipedia: What Are Semitones? "A semitone, also called a half step or a half tone,[1] is the smallest musical interval commonly used in Western tonal music,[2] and it is considered the most dissonant[3] when sounded harmonically. It is defined as the interval between two adjacent notes in a 12-tone scale (e.g. from C to C?). This implies that its size is exactly or approximately equal to 100 cents, a twelfth of an octave. In a 12-note approximately equally divided scale, any interval can be defined in terms of an appropriate number of semitones (e.g. a whole tone or major second is 2 semitones wide, a major third 4 semitones, and a perfect fifth 7 semitones. In music theory, a distinction is made[4] between a diatonic semitone, or minor second (an interval encompassing two staff positions, e.g. from C to D?) and a chromatic semitone or augmented unison (an interval between two notes at the same staff position, e.g. from C to C?). These are enharmonically equivalent when twelve-tone equal temperament is used, but are not the same thing in meantone temperament, where the diatonic semitone is distinguished from and larger than the chromatic semitone (augmented unison.). " (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semitone) Other Related Videos and Playlists Here are other interesting playlists from my channel which group together my different piano lessons by theme/category: Reading Sheet Music for Beginners: a 4-Part Series http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6596DB58980FDCDA Inspiring Piano Harmony, Chord and Voicing Tips and Tricks: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLP9cbwDiLzdIohD9iHFXzZIjfgoe0ETzm Exercises for Developing Piano Technique http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLP9cbwDiLzdKqPegzd6jkoEaL7HHw8QuA The 2-5-1 Harmonic Progression: a 4-Part Series http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE53C45D3F16F64C0