D 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
- D 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
1Droot
b2Ebminor 2nd
2Emajor 2nd
b3Fminor 3rd
3F#major 3rd
4Gperfect 4th
b5Abdim 5th
5Aperfect 5th
b6Bbminor 6th
6Bmajor 6th
b7Cminor 7th
7C#major 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
- DHEbHEHFHF#HGHAbHAHBbHBHCHC#
Tensions & resolutions
Stable degrees
IDnominal centretonic
Typical resolutions & tensions
IIIF#F#
IVGG
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
IDD
IIEE
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.
This scale on guitar 🎸
See how D 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.