- [Instructor] A half step is the distance from any key to the very next key above or below. It can be a black key or a white key. A whole step is equal to two half steps. Skip one key, either a black key, or a white key. A tetrachord is a series of four notes, having a pattern of whole step, whole step, half step. The notes of a tetrachord must be in alphabetical order, and must also have the whole step, whole step, half step pattern.
Let's take a look at some half steps and whole steps on the keyboard. If you start on C, and go up a half step, you'll play the black key C-sharp. Now let's look at D, and go down a half step. You're playing D-flat. Notice that this black key can have two names, C-sharp or D-flat, and that's true for any black key on the keyboard. Now, a whole step is two half steps put together.
So if we want to play C and go up a whole step, we'll skip C-sharp, that's a half step, and we'll go to D. A whole step up from D, is E. Now, what happens if you start on a black key, and you want to go up a whole step? Let's start on F-sharp. We can also call this G-flat. If we go up a whole step from there, we'll skip the white key, that'll be our half step, and we'll go to G-sharp, we can also call it A-flat, and from there, if we go up another whole step, we're on A-sharp or B-flat.
Now a tetrachord is a series of four notes. And it's a pattern that uses the half and whole steps that we've just learned. A tetrachord starting on C, from there you would go up a whole step to D, another whole step to E, and then a half step to F.
Released
1/13/2017- Practicing proper hand technique
- Practicing proper seating position
- Practicing the right-hand C and left-hand C positions
- Melodic intervals
- Harmonic intervals
- B for the left and right hand
- A for the left hand
- Using the damper pedal
- Moving up and down the keyboard in 6ths
- Measuring half steps and whole steps
- Progressions and triplets
Skill Level Beginner
Duration
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Related Courses
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Introduction
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Welcome29s
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1. The Basics
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The keyboard3m 13s
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Right-hand C position1m 43s
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Quarter notes and half notes2m 56s
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Left-hand C position1m 26s
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The whole note2m 25s
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The grand staff3m 3s
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2. Melodic Intervals
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Melodic intervals: 2nds3m 43s
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Melodic intervals: 3rds2m 50s
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Melodic intervals: 4ths3m 20s
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Melodic intervals: 5ths2m 16s
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3. Introducing Harmony
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The sharp sign1m 1s
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The C major chord2m 44s
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B for the left hand3m 28s
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B for the right hand2m 16s
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A for the left hand3m 40s
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The damper pedal4m 13s
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4. New Rhythms and Intervals
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Eighth notes3m 11s
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The dotted quarter note3m 8s
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Intervals: 6ths6m 41s
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Syncopated notes2m 59s
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The flat sign1m 14s
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5. Music Theory
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The major scale2m 30s
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More about chords7m 22s
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About the blues3m 51s
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RH: An extended position1m 46s
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The G major scale1m 23s
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6. Progressions and Triplets
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Triads and progressions6m 51s
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A new style of bass4m 16s
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Eighth note triplets2m 54s
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Conclusion
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Closing and credits1m 44s
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Video: Measuring half steps and whole steps