Editing Semitone (section)

==Minor second==

[[File:Cadence minor second.png|thumb|The melodic minor second is an integral part of most cadences of the [[Common practice period]].[[File:Cadence minor second V65-I.mid]]]]

{{Infobox musical interval
| main_interval_name = minor second
| inverse = major seventh
| other_names = semitone, half step
| abbreviation = m2
| semitones = 1
| interval_class = 1
| just_interval = 
| cents_equal_temperament = 100.0
| cents_24T_equal_temperament = 
| cents_just_intonation = 
}}

The ''minor second'' occurs in the [[major scale]], between the third and fourth degree, (''mi'' (E) and ''fa'' (F) in C major), and between the seventh and eighth degree (''ti'' (B) and ''do'' (C) in C major). It is also called the ''diatonic semitone'' because it occurs between [[step (music)|steps]] in the [[diatonic scale]]. The minor second is abbreviated '''m2''' (or '''&minus;2'''). Its inversion is the ''[[major seventh]]'' (''M7'' or ''Ma7'').

{{Audio|Minor_Second_ET.ogg|Listen to a minor second in equal temperament}}. Here, [[middle C]] is followed by D{{music|flat}}, which is a tone 100 [[Cent (music)|cents]] sharper than C, and then by both tones together.

[[Melody|Melodically]], this interval is very frequently used, and is of particular importance in [[Cadence (music)|cadences]]. In the [[Interval (music)|perfect]] and [[Cadence (music)#Deceptive cadence|deceptive cadences]] it appears as a resolution of the [[leading-tone]] to the [[Tonic (music)|tonic]]. In the [[plagal cadence]], it appears as the falling of the [[subdominant]] to the [[mediant]]. It also occurs in many forms of the [[imperfect cadence]], wherever the tonic falls to the leading-tone.

[[Harmony|Harmonically]], the interval usually occurs as some form of [[Consonance and dissonance|dissonance]] or a [[nonchord tone]] that is not part of the [[Diatonic function|functional harmony]]. It may also appear in inversions of a [[major seventh chord]], and in many [[added tone chord]]s.

[[File:Bach minor second smaller.png|thumb|center|400px|Harmonic minor second in [[Johann Sebastian Bach|J. S. Bach]]'s Prelude in C major from the [[The Well-Tempered Clavier|WTC]], book 1, mm. 7–9.[[File:Bach minor second smaller BWV 846.mid]] The minor second may be viewed as a [[Suspension (music)|suspension]] of the ''B'' resolving into the following ''A minor seventh'' chord.]]

{{Listen|type=music|header='''[[Frédéric Chopin]]'s "wrong note" [[Études (Chopin)|Étude]]'''|filename=Frederic Chopin - Opus 25 - Twelve Grand Etudes - e minor.ogg|title=Étude Op. 25, No. 5|description=[[Martha Goldstein]] playing on an [[Sébastien Érard|Érard]] (1851)<br /><small>Opening bars</small>[[File:Chopin minor second.png|250px]]|pos=left}}

In unusual situations, the minor second can add a great deal of character to the music. For instance, [[Frédéric Chopin]]'s [[Étude Op. 25, No. 5 (Chopin)|Étude Op. 25, No. 5]] opens with a melody accompanied by a line that plays fleeting minor seconds. These are used to humorous and whimsical effect, which contrasts with its more lyrical middle section. This eccentric dissonance has earned the piece its nickname: the "wrong note" étude. This kind of usage of the minor second appears in many other works of the [[Romantic music|Romantic]] period, such as [[Modest Mussorgsky]]'s ''[[Pictures at an Exhibition|Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks]]''. More recently, the music to the movie ''[[Jaws (film)#Music|Jaws]]'' exemplifies the minor second.

===In other temperaments===
In [[just intonation]] a 16:15 minor second arises in the C [[major scale]] between B & C and E & F, and is "the sharpest [[consonance and dissonance|dissonance]] found in the [major] [[musical scale|scale]]."<ref name="books.google.com">Paul, Oscar (1885). ''[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_4WEJAQAAMAAJ <!-- quote=musical interval "pythagorean major third". --> A manual of harmony for use in music-schools and seminaries and for self-instruction]'', p. 165. [[Theodore Baker]], trans. G. Schirmer.</ref> {{audio|Just minor second in scale.mid|Play B & C}}

{{Wide image|Comparison of minor seconds.png|500px|<!--caption-->|400px|<!--left-->|alt=}}{{clear}}