G 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
G 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

1Groot
b2Abminor 2nd
2Amajor 2nd
b3Bbminor 3rd
3Bmajor 3rd
4Cperfect 4th
b5Dbdim 5th
5Dperfect 5th
b6Ebminor 6th
6Emajor 6th
b7Fminor 7th
7F#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
G
H
Ab
H
A
H
Bb
H
B
H
C
H
Db
H
D
H
Eb
H
E
H
F
H
F#

Tensions & resolutions

Stable degrees

IGnominal centretonic

Typical resolutions & tensions

IIIBB
IVCC
In a dominant context, scale degree 4 normally descends by step to 3.
IGG
IIAA
Scale degree 2 may descend to tonic; the motion is especially close when degree 2 is lowered.

This scale on guitar 🎸

See how G Chromatic scale looks on guitar.

Explore

Circle of fifths

The major key on the same tonic and its neighbouring keys on the circle of fifths.

CAmGEmDBmAF#mEC#mBG#mF#D#mDbBbmAbFmEbCmBbGmFDmGmajor
Relative key
Dominant
Subdominant
Key signature
1 sharp (F#)

Connections

Practice

Keyboard Trainer

Reinforce it in practice — play and name notes on the interactive keyboard.

Open Trainer

Frequently Asked Questions