Which term describes the half-step between two notes with different letter names, occurring naturally in major or minor scales?

Which term describes the half-step between two notes with different letter names, occurring naturally in major or minor scales?

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

Answer: (B)

The key idea is the spelling of the semitone in diatonic scales. A diatonic half-step is a semitone between two notes that have different letter names, which happens naturally in major or minor scales. In a major scale like C major, the semitone steps occur between E and F and between B and C precisely because the letter names change. That is what defines it as a diatonic half-step. By contrast, a chromatic half-step is between notes with the same letter name but different accidentals (like C to C#), which isn’t the case here. A whole step covers two semitones, and a minor second is simply another name for a semitone without specifying the letter-name relationship. So the described term is diatonic half-step.

The key idea is the spelling of the semitone in diatonic scales. A diatonic half-step is a semitone between two notes that have different letter names, which happens naturally in major or minor scales. In a major scale like C major, the semitone steps occur between E and F and between B and C precisely because the letter names change. That is what defines it as a diatonic half-step.

By contrast, a chromatic half-step is between notes with the same letter name but different accidentals (like C to C#), which isn’t the case here. A whole step covers two semitones, and a minor second is simply another name for a semitone without specifying the letter-name relationship. So the described term is diatonic half-step.