©Aydan Con (2020), for use by VYSO online theory learning

Semi-tones and whole tones

• There are two different types of steps: whole tones and semi-tones.

• Semitones are the smallest distance between two notes

• On the violin, you play semitones when your fingers touch

e.g. C♯ to D on the A-string

F♯ to G on the D-string. • On the cello, you play semitones when you play with two fingers that are

right next to you.

e.g. C♯ to D on the A-string

F to F♯ on the D-string.

There are two types of semitones

Chromatic semitones These notes have the same letter names

Diatonic semitones These notes have different letter names

** Semitones always move from a flat (♭)/sharp (♯) note to a natural

note (♮), or vice versa (♮→♭ or ♮ → ♯ )

**There are two exceptions: B♮ → C♮ and E♮ → F♮ are semitones

Before we go on, let’s review accidentals:

Naturals (♮) have no sharps and flats

Sharps (♯) make natural notes a semitone higher

Flats (♭) make natural notes a semitone lower

©Aydan Con (2020), for use by VYSO online theory learning

For all notes that are a step apart, we can use the following line to determine how

many semitones they have! Moving from the one accidental to the next is one

semitone!

Let’s practice finding semitones!

1. Circle all the semitones in the following music from the violin parts of the

Pirates of the Caribbean Suite.

2. Challenge: If you want to challenge yourself, label all the semitones as either a

diatonic semitone (DST) or chromatic semitone (CST)

*Be careful of the key signature and any accidentals!

©Aydan Con (2020), for use by VYSO online theory learning

Violin Excerpts

©Aydan Con (2020), for use by VYSO online theory learning

Viola Parts

©Aydan Con (2020), for use by VYSO online theory learning

Cello Parts

©Aydan Con (2020), for use by VYSO online theory learning

Whole tones

• Whole tones are made of two semitones.

• On the violin, you play whole tones when your fingers are spaced further

apart.

e.g. D to E on the A-string

G to A on the E-string. • On the cello, you play whole tones when you play two notes, while skipping a

finger in between (e.g. finger 1 to 3)

e.g. C to D on the A-string

E to F♯ on the D-string.

Whole tones move from:

♯ to ♯ ♮ to ♮ ♭ to ♭

**There are four

exceptions:

B♮ → C♯

E♮ → F♯

B♭ → C♮

E♭ → F♮

Let’s practice finding whole tones!

3. Circle all the whole tones in the following music from the Pirates of the

Caribbean Suite.

*Be careful of the key signature and any accidentals!

These are all whole tones!

©Aydan Con (2020), for use by VYSO online theory learning

Violin Excerpts

©Aydan Con (2020), for use by VYSO online theory learning

Viola Parts

©Aydan Con (2020), for use by VYSO online theory learning

Cello Parts

©Aydan Con (2020), for use by VYSO online theory learning

Whole tones and semitones in scales

• Scales are a collection of notes that go from the lowest possible

sounds to the highest possible sounds.

• Each scale has a pattern of whole tones and semitones.

The major scale has this pattern of wholetones and semitones:

WT WT ST WT WT WT ST

We use whole tones and diatonic semitones to write major scales.

Let’s practice writing whole tones and diatonic semitones in the treble,

alto and bass clefs.

These are

wholetones

These are semitones

These are

wholetones

These are semitones

These are

wholetones

These are semitones

©Aydan Con (2020), for use by VYSO online theory learning

©Aydan Con (2020), for use by VYSO online theory learning

©Aydan Con (2020), for use by VYSO online theory learning

Exercise 3: Write the following major scales by using whole tones and

semitones. The first note for each scale has been provided.

\\

WT WT WT ST

WT WT WT ST

WT WT ST WT WT

WT ST

WT WT ST WT WT

WT ST

©Aydan Con (2020), for use by VYSO online theory learning

©Aydan Con (2020), for use by VYSO online theory learning