puolisävelaskeleet

Puolisävelaskeleet is a Finnish term referring to half steps in music theory. A half step, also known as a semitone, is the smallest interval in Western music. When a musician plays or sings two adjacent notes on a piano, such as C and C sharp, or E and F, they are performing a half step.

In the diatonic scale, the distance between most adjacent scale degrees is a whole step, but there are specific half steps. For example, in the C major scale, the half steps occur between E and F, and between B and C. These half steps create characteristic sounds and are crucial for defining the quality of a scale or chord.

The concept of puolisävelaskeleet is fundamental to understanding melody, harmony, and musical structure. Manipulating these intervals allows composers to create tension, resolution, and a wide range of emotional expression. The chromatic scale is made up entirely of half steps, providing all twelve available pitches within an octave. Understanding puolisävelaskeleet is therefore essential for any musician learning to read, write, or perform music.