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The Cipher System uses the chromatic scale and its numbered semitones (or half-steps) as its tone-numbering referent.
An (equal tempered) chromatic scale spans one octave of pitch and divides the octave into twelve equal-distant parts. One increment (degree or step) of a chromatic scale equals one semitone or one half-step. Likewise, two steps of a chromatic scale equal two half-steps or semitones. The terms chromatic-step, semitone, and half-step are synonymous.
The guitars frets are laid down chromatically. Each successive fret raises or lowers the pitch of any string one chromatic-step or one half-step (or semitone).
All of the following terms then are interchangeable: chromatic-step, chromatic scale-degree, half-step, semitone, and fret.
Note, in today’s world where the chromatic scale is taken for granted, the term half-step is perhaps less than an ideal term. It isn’t quite fair to think of half-steps as being half of something else. Half-steps (i.e. chromatic scale steps) are no less tones than those called whole — they’re full and complete things in and of themselves in our musical systems (otherwise they wouldn’t be found on the piano keyboard nor guitar fretboard).
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