What is the result of lowering a note by a half step?

Lowering a note by a half step results in the note becoming flat. In music theory, a half step, also known as a semitone, is the smallest interval used in Western music. When a note is lowered by this interval, it moves to the next note down in pitch.

For example, if you take the note C and lower it by a half step, you end up with B, which is referred to as C flat. The term "flat" indicates a note that has been lowered in pitch, and it is commonly denoted with a flat symbol (♭) when written in sheet music.

Understanding this concept is crucial for musicians as it affects how they read music, play instruments, and understand written notation, particularly when tuning instruments or transposing pieces of music. Other choices, such as becoming sharp or remaining the same, do not accurately reflect the musical action of lowering a note by a half step, reinforcing that flattening is the correct terminology in this context.