Which term describes a half-step between two notes with the same letter name?

Which term describes a half-step between two notes with the same letter name?

• A. Diatonic Half-Step
• B. Whole Step
• C. Chromatic Half-Step
• D. Minor Second

Answer: (C)

A chromatic half-step is the semitone between two notes that share the same letter name, created by sharpening or flattening one of them. For example, C and C-sharp are a half-step apart with the same letter C. In contrast, a diatonic half-step occurs between notes with different letter names (like E and F or B and C) within the diatonic scale. A whole step is two semitones, so it’s not a half-step. A minor second is simply the one-semitone distance, but it’s described as an interval between different letter names, not specifically as a same-letter chromatic pair.

A chromatic half-step is the semitone between two notes that share the same letter name, created by sharpening or flattening one of them. For example, C and C-sharp are a half-step apart with the same letter C. In contrast, a diatonic half-step occurs between notes with different letter names (like E and F or B and C) within the diatonic scale. A whole step is two semitones, so it’s not a half-step. A minor second is simply the one-semitone distance, but it’s described as an interval between different letter names, not specifically as a same-letter chromatic pair.