Semitone Calculator

A semitone calculator counts the half steps between two keys or two notes. Pick D minor and E minor and it answers up 2 semitones (or down 10), names the interval (major second) and sends the shift to the Key Changer in one click. One semitone is 100 cents, a ratio of 2^1/12 ≈ 1.0595.

Semitone and Interval Calculator

Pick two keys or two notes. The semitones up and down appear at once, with the interval name.

Two keys Two notes

From keyC majorD♭ majorD majorE♭ majorE majorF majorF♯ majorG majorA♭ majorA majorB♭ majorB majorC minorC♯ minorD minorE♭ minorE minorF minorF♯ minorG minorG♯ minorA minorB♭ minorB minor ⇅ Swap from and to To keyC majorD♭ majorD majorE♭ majorE majorF majorF♯ majorG majorA♭ majorA majorB♭ majorB majorC minorC♯ minorD minorE♭ minorE minorF minorF♯ minorG minorG♯ minorA minorB♭ minorB minor

C major → F major

+5

semitones up

• Up 5 semitones shortest
• Down 7 semitones

Interval: perfect fourth up

Apply +5 semitones in the Key Changer

More: cents, ratio and speed · Hz calculator · play the notes

Cents

+500 cents

Frequency ratio

×1.3348

Speed %

133.48 % if pitch and speed change together (a 3:00 song lasts 2:15)

Play both notes First note, second note, then both together.

Hz + semitones → new frequency

Frequency (Hz) Shift (semitones, −48 to +48)

New frequency: 493.88 Hz (B4), change +53.88 Hz

Popular calculations

Calculation	Semitones	Interval
D minor → E minor	up 2 (or down 10)	major second (whole step)
A minor → F minor	down 4 (or up 8)	major third
C minor → F minor	up 5 (or down 7)	perfect fourth
F minor → A minor	up 4 (or down 8)	major third
A minor → D minor	up 5 (or down 7)	perfect fourth
E minor → D minor	down 2 (or up 10)	major second (whole step)
C minor → G minor	down 5 (or up 7)	perfect fourth
C major → F major	up 5 (or down 7)	perfect fourth
C major → D minor	up 2 (or down 10)	major second (whole step)
F3 → C6	up 31	perfect nineteenth
E4 → C5	up 8	minor sixth
C4 → G4	up 7	perfect fifth
440 Hz + 1 semitone	466.16 Hz (+26.16 Hz)	minor second (half step)

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Related tools

How to use the semitone calculator

1. Choose Two keys or Two notes. Keys come as major or minor; notes come with an octave number (middle C is C4, A4 is 440 Hz).
2. Set the start and the target. Swap turns the question around.
3. Read the result: the big number, both directions with the shortest one highlighted, and the interval name. For notes the number is the exact distance, octaves included.
4. Apply it. Apply in the Key Changer opens the Online Key Changer with that shift already set. The address bar keeps the calculation, so you can share the link.
5. Open More if you need it: cents, frequency ratio, speed %, a Hz + semitones calculator and Play both notes.

Example: F3 to C6 is up 31 semitones, a perfect nineteenth (2 octaves + a perfect fifth), 3,100 cents and a frequency ratio of ×5.9932.

What is a semitone?

A semitone (half step) is the smallest step in Western music: from one piano key to the next, black keys included, or one fret on a guitar. Twelve semitones make an octave, and an octave doubles the frequency. Each semitone therefore multiplies the frequency by 2^1/12 ≈ 1.059463, about 5.95 % higher, and is divided into 100 cents. The guide on what semitones are covers the theory; the pitch in music guide explains how frequency and pitch relate.

Formula: new frequency = start frequency × 2^n/12, and n = 12 × log₂(f₂ ÷ f₁) for two known frequencies. Worked example: 440 Hz + 3 semitones = 440 × 1.189207 = 523.25 Hz, the note C5. In reverse, 440 Hz to 493.88 Hz is 12 × log₂(1.122462) = 2 semitones.

How many hertz is a semitone? It depends on the note, because the step is a ratio, not a fixed number of hertz: one semitone above A2 (110 Hz) +6.54 Hz, A4 (440 Hz) +26.16 Hz, A6 (1760 Hz) +104.66 Hz. That is why musicians count semitones, not hertz.

How to count semitones between two notes

Count every key from the first note to the second, black keys included, without counting the start note. C to G passes C♯, D, E♭, E, F, F♯ and G: 7 semitones, a perfect fifth. Going down, the count is 12 minus the upward count: E up to C is 8 semitones, E down to C is 4.

Across octaves, add 12 per octave. F3 to F5 is 24 semitones, F5 to C6 another 7, so F3 to C6 is 31: a perfect nineteenth. Interval names above the octave add 7 to the number (a fifth + 2 octaves = 5 + 14 = 19th). The table lists the 13 intervals inside one octave with the numbers the calculator shows.

Semitones, intervals and ratios (12-tone equal temperament)

Semitones	Interval	From C	Cents	Frequency ratio	Varispeed
0	unison	C → C	0	1.0000	100.00 %
1	minor second (half step)	C → C♯	100	1.0595	105.95 %
2	major second (whole step)	C → D	200	1.1225	112.25 %
3	minor third	C → E♭	300	1.1892	118.92 %
4	major third	C → E	400	1.2599	125.99 %
5	perfect fourth	C → F	500	1.3348	133.48 %
6	tritone	C → F♯	600	1.4142	141.42 %
7	perfect fifth	C → G	700	1.4983	149.83 %
8	minor sixth	C → A♭	800	1.5874	158.74 %
9	major sixth	C → A	900	1.6818	168.18 %
10	minor seventh	C → B♭	1000	1.7818	178.18 %
11	major seventh	C → B	1100	1.8877	188.77 %
12	octave	C → C′	1200	2.0000	200.00 %

Varispeed is the playback speed you get when pitch and speed change together, as on a turntable: +2 semitones plays at 112.25 %, so a 3:00 song lasts 2:40. Pitch shifting keeps 100 %; the difference is explained in pitch vs tempo.

Minor key to minor key semitones

Find the starting minor key in the left column and the target key at the top. Each cell is the shortest shift in semitones; the other direction is 12 minus that number. D minor to E minor is +2 (or −10), A minor to F minor is −4 (or +8), and C minor to G minor is −5 (or +7). Mode does not matter for the count, so the same numbers work from major key to major key.

Semitones from one minor key to another (shortest way; ±6 = a tritone either way)

From ↓ / to →	C	C♯	D	E♭	E	F	F♯	G	G♯	A	B♭	B
C minor	0	+1	+2	+3	+4	+5	±6	−5	−4	−3	−2	−1
C♯ minor	−1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4	+5	±6	−5	−4	−3	−2
D minor	−2	−1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4	+5	±6	−5	−4	−3
E♭ minor	−3	−2	−1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4	+5	±6	−5	−4
E minor	−4	−3	−2	−1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4	+5	±6	−5
F minor	−5	−4	−3	−2	−1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4	+5	±6
F♯ minor	±6	−5	−4	−3	−2	−1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4	+5
G minor	+5	±6	−5	−4	−3	−2	−1	0	+1	+2	+3	+4
G♯ minor	+4	+5	±6	−5	−4	−3	−2	−1	0	+1	+2	+3
A minor	+3	+4	+5	±6	−5	−4	−3	−2	−1	0	+1	+2
B♭ minor	+2	+3	+4	+5	±6	−5	−4	−3	−2	−1	0	+1
B minor	+1	+2	+3	+4	+5	±6	−5	−4	−3	−2	−1	0

Major to minor: C major to D minor moves the tonic up 2, but the mode changes, and a pitch shift keeps a song major; the calculator flags this. Relative keys such as C major and A minor share the same notes (see the music key chart and the circle of fifths).

Putting the number to use

Singers: when a song sits too high, count the semitones from its key to one that fits your range, then apply the shift. The key for your vocal range tool finds that target key, and song too high for your voice lists typical shifts; songs sung by the other voice type often need more (see the male to female key change).

Guitarists: a capo raises the key by 1 semitone per fret, so a capo on fret 3 turns E shapes into G. Producers: a sample at 120 BPM pitched up 2 semitones by varispeed runs at 134.7 BPM; to change the key and keep the tempo, use a pitch shifter. Students: the how to transpose a song guide turns the count into new chord names.

Which tool should you use?

Semitone tools on this site

Tool	Use it when
Semitone calculator (this page)	You need the number: any two keys or notes (with octaves), with the interval name; cents, ratio and Hz under More
How many semitones to change key	You want the quick answer for a common key change, harmony or male ↔ female shift from a chart
Online Key Changer (card above)	You want to hear and download a song in the new key
Pitch and tempo changer	You want the semitones and a new speed at the same time
BPM pitch changer	You work with samples and need key and BPM together
Online pitch changer	You want a quick pitch change of any audio

Questions about semitones

How many semitones are in an octave?

An octave has 12 semitones, and it doubles the frequency: A4 is 440 Hz, A5 is 880 Hz. Two octaves are 24 semitones (a perfect fifteenth), and the calculator names every larger interval, such as 31 semitones, a perfect nineteenth.

How do I convert cents to semitones?

Divide the cents by 100. 400 cents are 4 semitones, and 50 cents are half a semitone. The other way round, multiply semitones by 100. Under More, the calculator shows the cents for every result.

How many semitones is a tritone?

A tritone is 6 semitones, exactly half an octave, with a frequency ratio of √2 ≈ 1.4142. It is the only interval that is the same distance up and down, which is why the chart shows it as ±6.

How many semitones from A minor to D minor?

A minor to D minor is up 5 semitones or down 7. Up 5 is a perfect fourth, down 7 a perfect fifth. The shortest move is +5; choose −7 if the song should sound lower rather than higher.

Does the semitone count depend on major or minor?

No: the count only depends on the two tonic notes. C major to F major and C minor to F minor are both +5 (or −7). Changing from major to minor is a change of mode, not a number of semitones.

Can the calculator change the key of my song?

It calculates; it does not process audio. Press Apply in the Key Changer and the Online Key Changer opens with the same shift already set, so you only have to open your song there.