Chromatic Scale: What It Is, Notes and Uses

The chromatic scale runs through all twelve notes of Western music, each separated from the next by a half step (UK: semitone), dividing the octave into twelve equal steps. Unlike the major and minor scales, it has no tonic and no tonal hierarchy: all its notes are equally spaced.

What is the chromatic scale?

It is the series of the twelve different pitches that fit in an octave, each a half step from the previous one (thirteen notes if you count the arrival octave). It is therefore not a seven-note diatonic scale, but the complete sound material from which all other scales are drawn. Its character is neutral and tense at the same time, with no point of rest.

How it is written: sharps going up, flats going down

As a convention for readability, when ascending the altered notes are written with sharps and when descending with flats, so that the accidental points in the direction of the movement. Writing C♯ or D♭ for the same pitch reflects the difference between a diatonic and a chromatic half step.

Ascending from C: C · C♯ · D · D♯ · E · F · F♯ · G · G♯ · A · A♯ · B · C.

Chromatic scale on C, with the accidentals written next to each note: C, C sharp, D, D sharp, E, F, F sharp, G, G sharp, A, A sharp, B, C. — Ascending chromatic scale from C.

Descending from C: C · B · B♭ · A · A♭ · G · G♭ · F · E · E♭ · D · D♭ · C.

To practice this spelling with any starting note, ascending or descending, there is an interactive exercise: build the chromatic scale.

What it is used for

Chromatic passing notes: connecting two notes of the diatonic scale through the note in between, very common in melodies and bass lines.
Color and tension: adding chromaticism to a tonal phrase without changing key.
Voice leading: approaching the target note of a chord by half step, a central device in jazz and Romantic music.
Technique: it is the warm-up exercise par excellence on any instrument.

The chromatic scale in every key

The chromatic scale written from each of the 12 starting notes, with its correct spelling and its staff:

Starting note	Notes (ascending)
C	C C♯ D D♯ E F F♯ G G♯ A A♯ B
C♯	C♯ D D♯ E F F♯ G G♯ A A♯ B C
D	D D♯ E F F♯ G G♯ A A♯ B C C♯
E♭	E♭ E F F♯ G G♯ A A♯ B C C♯ D
E	E F F♯ G G♯ A A♯ B C C♯ D D♯
F	F F♯ G G♯ A A♯ B C C♯ D D♯ E
F♯	F♯ G G♯ A A♯ B C C♯ D D♯ E F
G	G G♯ A A♯ B C C♯ D D♯ E F F♯
A♭	A♭ A A♯ B C C♯ D D♯ E F F♯ G
A	A A♯ B C C♯ D D♯ E F F♯ G G♯
B♭	B♭ B C C♯ D D♯ E F F♯ G G♯ A
B	B C C♯ D D♯ E F F♯ G G♯ A A♯

Staff for each starting note

Chromatic scale on C sharp, with the accidentals written next to each note: C sharp, D, D sharp, E, F, F sharp, G, G sharp, A, A sharp, B, C, C sharp. — C♯

Chromatic scale on D, with the accidentals written next to each note: D, D sharp, E, F, F sharp, G, G sharp, A, A sharp, B, C, C sharp, D. — D

Chromatic scale on E flat, with the accidentals written next to each note: E flat, E, F, F sharp, G, G sharp, A, A sharp, B, C, C sharp, D, E flat. — E♭

Chromatic scale on E, with the accidentals written next to each note: E, F, F sharp, G, G sharp, A, A sharp, B, C, C sharp, D, D sharp, E. — E

Chromatic scale on F, with the accidentals written next to each note: F, F sharp, G, G sharp, A, A sharp, B, C, C sharp, D, D sharp, E, F. — F

Chromatic scale on F sharp, with the accidentals written next to each note: F sharp, G, G sharp, A, A sharp, B, C, C sharp, D, D sharp, E, F, F sharp. — F♯

Chromatic scale on G, with the accidentals written next to each note: G, G sharp, A, A sharp, B, C, C sharp, D, D sharp, E, F, F sharp, G. — G

Chromatic scale on A flat, with the accidentals written next to each note: A flat, A, A sharp, B, C, C sharp, D, D sharp, E, F, F sharp, G, A flat. — A♭

Chromatic scale on A, with the accidentals written next to each note: A, A sharp, B, C, C sharp, D, D sharp, E, F, F sharp, G, G sharp, A. — A

Chromatic scale on B flat, with the accidentals written next to each note: B flat, B, C, C sharp, D, D sharp, E, F, F sharp, G, G sharp, A, B flat. — B♭

Chromatic scale on B, with the accidentals written next to each note: B, C, C sharp, D, D sharp, E, F, F sharp, G, G sharp, A, A sharp, B. — B

The solfège names used in Spanish-, French- and Italian-speaking countries (Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Si) correspond to C, D, E, F, G, A, B.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many notes does the chromatic scale have?

It has 12 different notes within an octave (13 counting the arrival octave), all a half step apart. It is the scale with the most notes in the Western system.

Why is it written with sharps going up and flats going down?

It is a readability convention: the accidental points in the direction of the movement. Going up, sharps are used (C♯, D♯…) and going down, flats (B♭, A♭…), even though the same keys sound.

Does the chromatic scale have a tonic?

No. Because it is made of equal half steps it is symmetrical and has no resting note and no tonal hierarchy, unlike the major and minor scales.

How is it different from the major scale?

The major scale uses 7 notes with the pattern whole-whole-half-whole-whole-whole-half; the chromatic scale uses all 12 notes in a row by half steps. The major scale defines a key; the chromatic scale is the complete sound material.