#THE CHROMATIC SCALE HOW TO#

The chromatic scale is often used for decorative, 'colourful' effect.įor example, this extract below has a chromatic scale spanning just over an octave, for a very colourful effect leading up to a perfect cadence in B flat major: from Beethoven, Piano Sonata op. Look out for fragments of a chromatic scale (which could be as short as a few notes, or even spanning several octaves) in a piece of music. The chromatic scale can start on any note at all. While it appears simple - and really, it is - there are a few important things to bear in mind about the chromatic scale. Here is an example of a chromatic scale, starting on C: A chromatic scale starting on C

The word 'chromatic' (which comes from a word meaning 'colourful') can be considered the opposite of the word 'diatonic'.

This scale made of semitone intervals has a special name: the chromatic scale. After 12 notes you will arrive back at the start again (one octave higher). Note that there are 12 semitone gaps before we arrive back at the beginning again - try this on your instrument, starting on any note and rising by semitones. The pattern would therefore look like this: Let's consider a different type of scale: one made up of entirely semitones! The various types of the minor scale, too (natural, melodic, harmonic) have distinctive tone-semitone patterns, as discussed in The minor scale.Īll of these major and minor scales have seven notes (properly called seven degrees), and collectively these scales are called the diatonic scales. This pattern is unique to the major scale, and allows us to form a major scale starting on any note, simply by following this pattern: The important aspect of this scale is the pattern of semitones and tones that form the intervals between the notes. We have looked at the concept of the major scale in the previous study guide, so here is a quick reminder. Here we shall meet a scale comprised entirely of semitones.

#THE CHROMATIC SCALE HOW TO#

We have now seen the major and all types of minor scale, and we know how to construct all of these from tones and semitones. Why not subscribe now?Īlready have a subscription? Make sure you login first! To view the complete study guide, you will need a valid subscription.