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=== Semi-tones and Whole-tones ===
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|Music Theory Basics#Rhythm|Rhythm
|Music Theory Basics#Harmony|Harmony
|Music Theory Basics#Melody|Melody
|Music Theory Basics#Timbre|Timbre
|Music Theory Basics#Applied to Guitar|Guitar
|Music Theory Basics#Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do|Do Re Mi
|Music Theory Basics#The Chromatic Scale|Chrom. Scale
|Music Theory Basics#Semi-tones and Whole-tones|Half/Whole Tones
|Music Theory Basics#Sharps and Flats|{{s}}s and {{b}}s
|Music Theory Basics#The Major Scale|Major Scale}}
The "distance" from one note to the next in the chromatic scale is called a ''semi-tone'' or ''half-tone''. So A - A{{sharp}} or E - F is one semi-tone. A ''whole-tone'' is 2 semi-tones. So A - B is a whole-tone, just as A - A{{sharp}} and A{{sharp}} - B are two semi-tones.
Sometimes whole-tones are called ''whole steps'' and semi-tones are called ''half steps''.
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== Sharps and Flats ==
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|Music Theory Basics#Rhythm|Rhythm
|Music Theory Basics#Harmony|Harmony
|Music Theory Basics#Melody|Melody
|Music Theory Basics#Timbre|Timbre
|Music Theory Basics#Applied to Guitar|Guitar
|Music Theory Basics#Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do|Do Re Mi
|Music Theory Basics#The Chromatic Scale|Chrom. Scale
|Music Theory Basics#Semi-tones and Whole-tones|Half/Whole Tones
|Music Theory Basics#Sharps and Flats|{{s}}s and {{b}}s
|Music Theory Basics#The Major Scale|Major Scale}}
{{sharp}} or '#' means ''sharp''. {{flat}} or 'b' means ''flat''. These terms indicate the named note is raised or lowered one semi-tone. Multiple sharps and flats can be used. For example, A{{flat}}{{flat}} is 2 semi-tones below A. A{{flat}}{{flat}} corresponds to the same frequency as G. Similarly, G{{sharp}} is the same frequency as A{{flat}}, and B{{sharp}} is the same frequency as C. For our purposes, we are unlikely to deal with double (or more) sharps or flats. But it's important to understand what they are to remove some of the mystique from them.
We can even represent the entire chromatic scale in terms of a single note, using flats and sharps:
{|class="wikitable"
| A || A{{sharp}} ||B ||C ||C{{sharp}} ||D ||D{{sharp}} ||E ||F ||F{{sharp}} ||G ||G{{sharp}}
|-
| D{{flat}}{{flat}}{{flat}}{{flat}}{{flat}} || D{{flat}}{{flat}}{{flat}}{{flat}} || D{{flat}}{{flat}}{{flat}} || D{{flat}}{{flat}} || D{{flat}} ||D ||D{{sharp}} ||D{{sharp}}{{sharp}} ||D{{sharp}}{{sharp}}{{sharp}} ||D{{sharp}}{{sharp}}{{sharp}}{{sharp}} ||D{{sharp}}{{sharp}}{{sharp}}{{sharp}}{{sharp}} ||D{{sharp}}{{sharp}}{{sharp}}{{sharp}}{{sharp}}{{sharp}}
|}
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To truly master the guitar, you must understand all the aspects of music and know how to manipulate them through the guitar.
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== Notes and Movement ==
Most Western music is based around a 12-tone selection of notes (or scale) - that is 12 distinct pitches within a frequency range of one octave. The 13th pitch is double the frequency of the first note, starting a new octave. The pitches are equidistant (on a logarithmic scale) from each other, making them "neutral" in and of themselves.
These pitches are named using the letters A-G. You may notice that is only 7 letters - the other 5 can be expressed using [[#Sharps and Flats|sharp or flat]] symbols next to the letter names, covered below. It is customary to define the "A" note to a specific frequency, with the standard being A = 440 HZ. This determines the pitches of the other notes, given that they are all equidistant within an octave. Certain compositions may call for aligning the notes to different frequencies (A = 442 HZ); however, this will not change the ''relative'' pitch between notes, which is our primary concern in terms of the art of music. Whether a melody is played with A = 440 HZ or A = 442 HZ will have the same emotional impact on the listener.
=== Semi-tones and Whole-tones ===
In terms of melody, playing one tone then another is called <u>movement</u> - it is as if the pitch moved rather than being two distinct, unrelated pitches. The proximity between two notes in the 12-tone scale is called the <u>distance</u> between them. The distance between two consecutive notes is called a <u>semi-tone</u> (also called a <u>half-tone</u> or <u>half-step</u>). A <u>whole-tone</u> (also called a <u>whole-step</u>) is the distance of 2 semi-tones.
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=== Sharps and Flats ===
{{sharp}} or '#' means <u>sharp</u>. {{flat}} or 'b' means <u>flat</u>. These terms indicate the named note is raised or lowered one semi-tone, respectively. Multiple sharps and flats can be used. For example, A{{flat}}{{flat}} is 2 semi-tones below A. A{{flat}}{{flat}} corresponds to the same frequency as G. Similarly, G{{sharp}} is the same frequency as A{{flat}}, and B{{sharp}} is the same frequency as C. For our purposes, we are unlikely to deal with double (or more) sharps or flats. But it's important to understand what they are to remove some of the mystique from them.
We can even represent the entire 12-tone scale in terms of a single note, using flats and sharps:
{|class="wikitable"
| A || A{{sharp}} ||B ||C ||C{{sharp}} ||D ||D{{sharp}} ||E ||F ||F{{sharp}} ||G ||G{{sharp}}
|-
| D{{flat}}{{flat}}{{flat}}{{flat}}{{flat}} || D{{flat}}{{flat}}{{flat}}{{flat}} || D{{flat}}{{flat}}{{flat}} || D{{flat}}{{flat}} || D{{flat}} ||D ||D{{sharp}} ||D{{sharp}}{{sharp}} ||D{{sharp}}{{sharp}}{{sharp}} ||D{{sharp}}{{sharp}}{{sharp}}{{sharp}} ||D{{sharp}}{{sharp}}{{sharp}}{{sharp}}{{sharp}} ||D{{sharp}}{{sharp}}{{sharp}}{{sharp}}{{sharp}}{{sharp}}
|}
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This matches the frets on the fretboard. The 12th fret is the same note as the open string, just an octave higher. Notice the 12th fret is exactly the middle of the string. All the frets between the nut and 12th fret are spaced such that each fret is 5.946% higher pitched than the previous fret.
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