Whole & Half Steps: Bass Guitar Lessons

Video Transcript

"So as we've noticed from learning the notes, the natural notes in first position, we have some notes that are closer to each other than others. For example, from E to F is only one fret, but then to get from F to a natural G, you have to move up two frets, from first to the third. Same thing on the A string if you notice, from A to B is two frets, one, two, open to second. Then to C is just one fret. Well, when two notes are separated by one fret, they are said to be half steps away from each other. If they are two frets away, this is called a whole step. There is a pattern that we can use to recognize these. If we look at it on paper, we'll see if we line up our notes, starting with C. C is really a point where all the natural notes want to gather on. C, D, E, F, G, A, B and C. The key of C major for example, which we'll discuss later, has all natural notes, no sharps or flats. So this is really a way of looking at how our natural notes are separated. From C to D is a whole step. D to E is a whole step, two frets each way. E to F is a half step, so those are only one fret away. F to G whole, G to A whole, A to B whole. Then B to C is another half step. So we only have two half steps. So instead of trying to remember which ones are the whole steps, let's just remember which ones are the half steps. Let's use big cats eat fish. B, C is a half step, E, F is a half step. This is something to practice and that's what we'll explore on each part of the neck all the way up to the twelfth fret."