Resource 4 of 14Book 1
QR-B1-004
Semitone vs Whole Tone
Ear + Visual Training4–6 min
Objective
See, play and hear the difference between a semitone and a whole tone.
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Focus
“Two distances control almost every scale movement you are about to learn.”
Decode
- 01A semitone is the movement to the nearest physical key.
- 02A whole tone is the distance of two semitones.
- 03The natural semitone joins on the keyboard: E–F and B–C.
- 04Moving up and down from both white and black starting notes.
- 05A short ear drill: semitone or whole tone?
Key Idea
Whole tone = 2 semitones.
- Semitone = nearest physical key, white or black.
- E–F and B–C are semitones with no black key between them.
Practise Now
- 01Answer 10 mixed prompts, alternating semitone and whole tone.
- 02Play each answer before you confirm it, so the eye and the ear agree.
What you should be able to do
You can identify and play semitones and whole tones accurately, by sight and by ear.
Return to the Book
Student Handbook — Chapter 4
Close the resource, return to this page in the book and practise the pattern.