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

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

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

Answer: (A)

The key idea is distinguishing a chromatic half-step. A chromatic half-step is a semitone formed when the two pitches share the same letter name but differ by an accidental, such as C to C♯ (or C to C♭ downward). That’s exactly a half-step between notes with the same letter. This differs from a diatonic half-step, which occurs between two different letter names that are adjacent in the diatonic scale (like E to F or B to C). A whole step is two semitones, not one, and an augmented second is a different, larger interval that spans two letter names and is not just a chromatic semitone.

The key idea is distinguishing a chromatic half-step. A chromatic half-step is a semitone formed when the two pitches share the same letter name but differ by an accidental, such as C to C♯ (or C to C♭ downward). That’s exactly a half-step between notes with the same letter.

This differs from a diatonic half-step, which occurs between two different letter names that are adjacent in the diatonic scale (like E to F or B to C). A whole step is two semitones, not one, and an augmented second is a different, larger interval that spans two letter names and is not just a chromatic semitone.