Puolisävelaskeleen

Puolisävelaskeleen is a Finnish term that translates to "semitone" or "half step" in English. It refers to the smallest interval commonly used in Western music. In a chromatic scale, which consists of all twelve notes within an octave, the distance between any two adjacent notes is a semitone. For instance, the interval between C and C# (C sharp) is a semitone, as is the interval between E and F, or B and C.

The concept of the semitone is fundamental to understanding musical scales, chords, and melodies. Most diatonic scales, such as major and minor scales, are constructed using a specific pattern of whole steps (which are equivalent to two semitones) and semitones. For example, a major scale is built with the interval pattern whole-whole-half-whole-whole-whole-half. This arrangement of semitones and whole steps gives each scale its characteristic sound and emotional quality.

In music theory, semitones are often indicated by accidentals, such as sharps (#) and flats (b). A sharp raises a note by a semitone, while a flat lowers a note by a semitone. Double sharps and double flats also exist, which alter a note by two semitones. The precise tuning of semitones can vary depending on the tuning system used, with equal temperament being the most common in modern Western music, where each semitone is an equal fraction of an octave.