the whole step · pdf filemartin gureasko unlike the half step, which creates tension or...

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TheWholeStep

SQUARETWO:TheWholeStep

Review:Ahalfstep(alsocalledasemitone)isthesmallestmusicalintervalusedinWesternmusic.

Anintervalisthedistancebetweentwotones.

Awholestepiscomprisedoftwohalfsteps.

Goingbacktothepianokeyboard,awholestepisthedistancebetweentwokeyswithonlyonekeyinbetweenthem.

Theory - Building Blocks - Whole Steps

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So,let’slookatandlistentosomeexamplesofhowthewholestepsounds.

I’llstartwithathreenotemelody(usingthefirst3notesofascale).

Theory - Building Blocks - Whole Steps

MartinGureaskonakedkeyboardist.com

ThemelodyofMaryHadALittleLambiscomprisedofwholesteps.

IntheopeninglineofMaroon5’sSad,therearesomewholesteps,asshownintheexamplebelow.

Theory - Building Blocks - Whole Steps

MartinGureaskonakedkeyboardist.com

Unlikethehalfstep,whichcreatestensionordissonance,thewholestepispleasingandaddscolor.

Let’sreturntoNadia’sTheme,whichwelookedatinthelessononhalfsteps.

Theyellowhighlightsindicatethechordswithahalf-steptension,andtheviolethighlightsindicatethechordswithwholesteps.Noticethatthereisn’tnearlyasmuchtension.Infact,it’sanicewaytocolorachord.

Theory - Building Blocks - Whole Steps