The chromatic scale is a musical scale with twelve pitches, each a semitone or half step apart.

The most common conception of the chromatic scale before equal temperament was the Pythagorean chromatic scale, which is essentially a series of eleven 3:2 perfect fifths. The twelve-tone equally tempered scale tempers, or modifies, the Pythagorean chromatic scale by lowering each fifth slightly less than two cents, thus eliminating the Pythagorean comma of approximately 23.5 cents. Various other temperaments have also been proposed and implemented.

The term chromatic derives from the Greek word chroma, meaning color. Chromatic notes are traditionally understood as harmonically inessential embellishments, shadings, or inflections of diatonic notes.

The chromatic scale, starting on B, a half step lower than the chromatic scale on C. (listen)

Spelling

Ascending chromatic notes are generally spelled with sharps, and descending chromatic notes are generally spelled with flats (or, in reference to diatonic sharped notes, with natural signs):

Ascending chromatic scale with reference to the C major scale: C C# D D# E F F# G G# A A# B C.

Descending chromatic scale with reference to the C major scale: C B Bb A Ab G Gb F E Eb D Db C.

Ascending chromatic scale with reference to the A major scale: A A# B B# C# D D# E E# F# FX G# A.

Descending chromatic scale with reference to the Eb major scale: Eb D Db C Cb Bb Bbb Ab G Gb F Fb Eb.

Keyboard fingering

Here is the standard keyboard fingering for a chromatic scale; where 1 means the thumb; 2 the index finger; 3 the middle finger:

Historical usage

The ancient Greeks wrote of three genera of tetrachords: the diatonic, the chromatic, and the enharmonic. Some theorists, such as Ptolemy, assigned specific frequency proportions to these genera and others, such as Aristoxenus, did not. The tetrachords proceeded in descending order, the diatonic genus filling a perfect fourth with two whole tones and a semitone, the chromatic genus filling a perfect fourth with a minor third and two semitones, and the enharmonic genus filling a perfect fourth with a major third and two quarter tones.

The chromatic scale in Chinese music

The ancient Chinese chromatic scale is called Shi Er Lu.

Audio examples

See also

• Chromaticism
• Diatonic scale
• Diatonic and chromatic
• Atonality

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

Chromatic scale

• The 12 golden notes of music