What characterizes a whole tone scale?

A whole tone scale is characterized by a sequence of notes that are all a whole step apart, with no semitones included. This means that each note in the scale is two half steps away from the next, creating a uniform structure that lacks the tension and resolution typically associated with semitones. The absence of semitones leads to a unique sound that is often described as dreamy or ethereal, differing significantly from major and minor scales that include both whole tones and semitones.

The structure of the whole tone scale can be thought of as follows: if you start on a note, you would move up to the next note by skipping the immediate next half step. For instance, starting from C, the scale would consist of C, D, E, F♯, G♯, and A♯ before returning to C. This even spacing contributes to the distinct sound of the whole tone scale, setting it apart from other scales that incorporate varying intervals. Therefore, the correct characterization of a whole tone scale is that it consists entirely of whole tones without any semitones.