Tones, Semitones & Accidentals Unlocked
Understanding musical intervals Exploring accidentals and letter notation Year 11 Music Theory
What is a Semitone?
The smallest interval in Western music Distance from one key to the very next key Examples: C to C♯, E to F, B to C Also called a 'half step'
What is a Tone?
Two semitones put together Skip one key in between Examples: C to D, F to G, A to B Also called a 'whole step'
Understanding Accidentals
♯ (Sharp) - raises a note by a semitone ♭ (Flat) - lowers a note by a semitone ♮ (Natural) - cancels previous sharp or flat Examples: A♯, B♭, F♮
Semitone vs Tone Examples
{"left":"SEMITONES: C to C♯\nE to F\nG♯ to A\nB to C","right":"TONES: C to D\nF to G\nA to B\nD to E"}
Matching Card Activity
Match letter pairs for semitones Match letter pairs for tones Identify accidentals correctly Work in pairs to sort cards Examples: A-A♯ (semitone), C-D (tone)
Key Takeaways
Semitone = smallest musical distance Tone = two semitones together Accidentals modify letter names Letter notation helps us understand intervals clearly
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