Whole Step / Half Step
The two smallest distances in Western music. A half step is one fret. A whole step is two frets — two half steps stacked.
Why it matters
Every scale is just a specific recipe of whole and half steps. The major scale is whole-whole-half-whole-whole-whole-half, and that one pattern started on any fret gives you a major scale in that key.
Used in a sentence
Digging deeper
A half step is the distance of one fret — the smallest move in Western music. A whole step is two frets. Every scale you will ever learn is just a particular recipe of whole and half steps, which is why the same finger pattern gives you the same scale anywhere on the neck.
Common questions
What's the major scale's pattern?
Whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half — in frets that's 2-2-1-2-2-2-1. Start that pattern on any note and you have built a major scale in that key.
Do these go by other names?
Yes. A half step is also called a semitone, and a whole step a tone or whole tone. Same distances, different vocabulary depending on who taught you.
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