What are semitones?

Semitones, also known as half steps, are the smallest musical intervals used in Western music. They represent the distance between two adjacent notes on a piano keyboard, such as from C to C♯ or E to F. In a chromatic scale, there are 12 semitones within an octave, allowing for the creation of various musical scales and chords. Semitones play a crucial role in defining the tonal structure and harmonic relationships in music.