What is a Minor Second?

A minor second is one of the smallest intervals in Western music, representing the distance between two notes that are one semitone apart. A semitone is the smallest step used in the standard system of Western tuning. For example, the notes E and F, or B and C, form a minor second because they are directly next to each other on a keyboard.

The minor second interval has a very tense and dissonant sound because the two notes are so close in pitch. When played together, they create a noticeable clash that often feels unstable or unresolved. Because of this strong tension, composers frequently use minor seconds to create dramatic, suspenseful, or emotional moments in music.

Minor seconds appear in many musical scales and harmonies and are especially common in classical music, film scores, and modern experimental styles. They are also important in chromatic passages, where notes move in small half-step increments. Despite its small size, the minor second plays a significant role in shaping musical expression and tension in compositions.