Half step: the smallest step
O half step is the smallest distance between two notes on the piano and the guitar.
- In keyboard: it's going from one key to the immediate neighbor, whether white or black.
- In guitar: it's moving one fret on the same string.
There's no black key between E and F, so they're only a half step apart.
Whole step: two half steps
A whole step equals two half steps. On the keyboard, it's skipping one key. On the guitar, it's moving two frets.
Between C and D there's the black key C♯. So that's two half steps, which makes a whole step.
The two natural half steps: E-F and B-C
Look at the keyboard: between almost every pair of white keys there's a black one. The exceptions are E–F e B–C. There's no black key between them, so the distance is only a half step.
| From | To | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| C | D | 1 whole step |
| D | E | 1 whole step |
| E | F | ½ step (half step) |
| F | G | 1 whole step |
| G | A | 1 whole step |
| A | B | 1 whole step |
| B | C | ½ step (half step) |
Just memorize this: “E-F and B-C are stuck together”. Everything else is a whole step apart.
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Open the free app →Sharp, flat and natural
The symbols that change a note's pitch are called accidentals:
| Symbol | Name | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| ♯ | Sharp | Up 1 half step | F♯ = black key to the right of F |
| ♭ | Flat | Down 1 half step | B♭ = black key to the left of B |
| ♮ | Natural | Cancels the ♯ or ♭ and returns to the natural note | F♮ = plain F |
| 𝄪 | Double sharp | Up 2 half steps | F𝄪 sounds like G |
| 𝄫 | Double flat | Down 2 half steps | B𝄫 sounds like A |
In chord symbols, the sharp appears as # and the flat as b: F# (F sharp), Bb (B flat).
Enharmonics: same sound, two names
F♯ and G♭ are the same key. Notes like this are enharmonic. So why are there two names? Because in each scale we use each letter only once. In the D major scale, for example, the right name is F♯ (not G♭), because G comes right after.
This black key is called F♯ or G♭: same key, two names. The right name depends on the scale.
There are also enharmonics with white keys: E♯ = F, B♯ = C, F♭ = E e C♭ = B. They're rare, but they show up in some scales.
The chromatic scale
Playing all 12 notes in a row, half step by half step, makes the chromatic scale. Going up, it's usually written with sharps; going down, with flats.
Whole step and half step on the guitar
On the guitar neck the ruler is visual: each fret is a half step. Playing the open E string and then frets 1, 2, 3… you hear E, F, F♯, G, G♯, A… At fret 12 the E comes back, an octave higher.
Now put the theory into your fingers
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Practice theory in the free appFrequently asked questions
What's the difference between a whole step and a half step?
A half step is the smallest distance between two notes (one fret on the guitar, the next key on the piano). A whole step equals two half steps.
Why is there no black key between E and F?
Because the distance between E and F is already just a half step; there's no room for another note. The same happens between B and C.
Is there such a thing as E sharp?
It exists on paper and sounds the same as F. It shows up in scales with lots of sharps, like F♯ major, where each letter has to appear once.