How many semitones are there in an octave?
Music easy Data from 2024
Guess before you scroll — the answer is below
The answer
12 semitones
Roughly 12.
Western music divides an octave into 12 equal semitones. The choice is not universal — Indian classical music uses 22 microtonal divisions, and Arabic maqam systems use quarter tones that a piano physically cannot play.
Where this number comes from
| Source | Standard Western music theory |
|---|---|
| Figure refers to | 2024 |
| Last checked | |
| Unit | semitones |
Numbers move. If this one has drifted from its source, let us know.
Think you can do better?
Five fresh questions every day. No account needed.
Related questions
- How many weeks did the longest-charting song spend on the Billboard Hot 100?
- How many minutes long is Bohemian Rhapsody?
- How loud is a rock concert, in decibels?
- How many copies does an album need to sell for a gold record in the US?
- How many records have The Beatles sold worldwide?
- How many copies has Michael Jackson’s Thriller sold?