Even though there are only 7 note names used in music we actually divide those 7 notes into 12pitch steps.

To do that we use half steps (semi- tones)and whole steps (whole tones).

Between most adjacent (side by side) musical notes there are 2 half steps,or 1 whole step.

The exceptions to this are E-Fand B-C which are 1/2step apart.

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If you look at a piano keyboard you will notice white keys and black keys.

The white keys are the "regular" notes (A,B,C,etc.) and the black keys are the sharpsand flats between those notes. (Ab, Bb, D#,etc.)

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Each black key can have two names; a flat name and a sharp name.

eg. The black note between C and D can be called C# or Db.

A notewith two names is called "enharmonic."

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You will also notice that there is no black key between E-F and between B-C. That is because there is only 1/2step between those notes.

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1.

7:1 InterActive Whole & Half Steps Exercise

requires Shockwave

Try it!! You'll like it!!

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2.

A chromatic scale moves in half steps. When we go up (ascending) a chromatic scale weuse the "sharp" names for the "enharmonic" notes.

When we go down (descending)we use the "flat" names.

Therefore a "C Chromatic Scale"would start on C and ascend or descend in half-steps until it reached the next C.

1. Adjacent notes of a scale are separated by W Big Small H or W Big Small H steps.

2. The enharmonic name for C# is Ab A A# Bb B B# Cb C C# Db D D# Eb E E# Fb F F# Gb G G# .

3. A C scale would start on Ab A A# Bb B B# Cb C C# Db D D# Eb E E# Fb F F# Gb G G# and ascend or descend to the next Ab A A# Bb B B# Cb C C# Db D D# Eb E E# Fb F F# Gb G G# .

4. All adjacent notes in a Chromatic Scale are W Big Small H step apart.

5. The pattern for a Chromatic Scale is;

6. Name the notes in the following scales;

a) D# chromatic ascending.

b) Db chromatic descending.