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In music theory a diatonic scale is a heptatonic (seven-note) scale that includes five whole steps (whole tones) and two half steps (semitones) in each octave, in which the two half steps are separated from each other by either two or three whole steps. In other words, the half steps are maximally separated from each other.
Thus, S is the greater semitone, and X is the lesser one. S is commonly called the diatonic semitone (or minor second), while X is called the chromatic semitone (or augmented unison). The sizes of S and X can be compared to the just intonated ratio 18 : 17 which is 99.0 cents. S deviates from it by +18.2 cents, and X by −22.9 cents. These two ...
The distinction between diatonic and chromatic intervals is controversial, as it is based on the definition of diatonic scale, which is variable in the literature. For example, the interval B–E ♭ (a diminished fourth, occurring in the harmonic C-minor scale) is considered diatonic if the harmonic minor scales are considered diatonic as well ...
Namely, the apotome (about 113.69 cents, e.g. from C to C ♯) is the chromatic semitone, or augmented unison (A1), while the limma (about 90.23 cents, e.g. from C to D ♭) is the diatonic semitone, or minor second (m2). A ditone (or major third) is an interval formed by two major tones. In Pythagorean tuning, a major tone has a size of about ...
The diatonic semitone, d, called S above, is the change in pitch of a sequence of six notes spaced by fifths, e.g. from E to F or B to C. For any tuning, the diatonic semitone is the relative pitch difference on a standard keyboard between two white keys that have no black key between them.
The prime factors of the just interval 81 / 80 known as the syntonic comma can be separated out and reconstituted into various sequences of two or more intervals that arrive at the comma, such as 81 / 1 × 1 / 80 or (fully expanded and sorted by prime) 3 × 3 × 3 × 3 / 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 5 .
The table below summarizes the definitions of the diminished second in the main tuning systems. In the column labeled "Difference between semitones", m2 is the minor second (diatonic semitone), A1 is the augmented unison (chromatic semitone), and S 1, S 2, S 3, S 4 are semitones as defined in five-limit tuning#Size of intervals.
The words diatonic and chromatic are also applied inconsistently to harmony: Often musicians call diatonic harmony any kind of harmony inside the major–minor system of common practice. When diatonic harmony is understood in this sense, the supposed term chromatic harmony means little, because chromatic chords are also used in that same system.