A whole tone is a musical interval that spans two semitones, or half steps. It is the distance between two notes that are two keys apart on a piano keyboard. For example, the interval from C to D is a whole tone, as is the interval from F to G. Whole tones are fundamental in constructing scales and melodies. In Western music, the whole tone scale consists entirely of whole tone intervals, creating a unique sound that lacks a tonal center. This scale is often associated with impressionistic music, particularly in the works of composers like Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel.