C Chromatic scale
All twelve pitch classes of the octave in semitone order; tonal hierarchy comes only from context.
Octaves
Musical context
How the scale relates to the chord, mode, key and progression.
Theory
General info
- Name
- C Chromatic scale
- Family
- Symmetric scales
- Note count
- 12
- Step formula
- H – H – H – H – H – H – H – H – H – H – H – H
- Numeric formula
- 0-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1
Notes & degrees
1Croot
b2Dbminor 2nd
2Dmajor 2nd
b3Ebminor 3rd
3Emajor 3rd
4Fperfect 4th
b5Gbdim 5th
5Gperfect 5th
b6Abminor 6th
6Amajor 6th
b7Bbminor 7th
7Bmajor 7th
Construction
- Overview
- All twelve pitch classes of the octave in semitone order; tonal hierarchy comes only from context.
- Application in music
- Has no key of its own. Used for chromatic passing and neighbor tones.
- Interval formula
- CHDbHDHEbHEHFHGbHGHAbHAHBbHB
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
ICnominal centretonic
Typical resolutions & tensions
IIIEE
IVFF
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
ICC
IIDD
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.
This scale on guitar 🎸
See how C Chromatic scale looks on guitar.
Circle of fifths
The major key on the same tonic and its neighbouring keys on the circle of fifths.
Connections
Practice
Keyboard Trainer
Reinforce it in practice — play and name notes on the interactive keyboard.