Identifying half and whole steps by ear is a fundamental ear training skill. It is a great place to start when you are working on identifying intervals by ear. When you can consistently do this, it will make transcribing chords, solos, songs, and anything in music easier.
What Are Whole Steps and Half Steps
In music theory, a half step (or semitone) is the smallest interval that can be played. It's the distance of one fret (or note). If I play an E note and go up one fret, I would then be on an F note.
A whole step, on the other hand, is made up of two half steps—you move up or down two frets on the guitar. So if I play an F note and go up a whole step, I would be on a G.
Whole Steps and Half Steps in Major and Minor Keys
In a major key, half steps only occur twice, between the 3rd and 4th scale degree and the 7th and 1st. For example, in the key of C, we have notes:
C (1) D (2) E (3) F (4) G (5) A (6) B (7)
So if you hear a half step you know it has to be either a 3 to 4 (or vice versa) or a 7 to 1 (or vice versa). And if you hear a whole step you know it can’t be those. It helps limit your options so you can figure out what a song is doing. It makes ear training and identifying intervals by ear a lot easier.
In a minor key, there are also only two places a half step occurs. Between the b3 and 4th scale degree and the 5th and b6th. Look at the A minor scale below:
A (1) B (2) C (b3) D (4) E (5) F (b6) G (b7)
So if you hear a half step, you know it has to be either a 2 to b3 (or vice versa) or a 5 to b7 (or vice versa).
Watch the video below to test how good your ear is at identifying half steps and whole steps.
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