Note in an octave

[Wimblees@AOL.COM]

In a message dated 11/9/99 2:16:16 AM !!!First Boot!!!, harvey@greenwood.net 
writes:

<< #2 daughter just asked me, "Dad, how many whole tones are in an octave"?
 
 I could have belabored the point, based on 12-tone music, etc. However, I
 said "Eight, like 'octo' from the Latin, etc. Why do you ask?"
 
 She had just been watching the 'Who wants to be a millionaire" program, and
 this was one of the questions. The contestant answered "Eight"... bzzzt.
 
 The "correct" response was that there are twelve half-tones in an octave,
 and SIX whole tones. The contestant missed the question by answering eight.
 
 So, in spite of all my muzical educashun, I must have been sick that day.
 Would someone 'splain this to me?
 
 
 
 Jim Harvey, RPT >>


There are 6 whole tones in an octave. One between C and D, one between D and 
E, one between E and F#, one between F# and G#, one between G# and A#, and 
one between A# and C.  What you are thinking of is a major scale, which has 
two half tones in it. 

Willem