Fundamentals
14 Introduction to the Chromatic “Scale”
Chelsey Hamm
Key Takeaways
- A chromatic scale, also known as the chromatic collection, consists of twelve adjacent half-steps. Chromatic scales are often (but not always) written with sharps while ascending, and with flats while descending.
Chromatic “Scales”
A chromatic "scale" consists of twelve adjacent half-steps. Because there is no distinction between half- and whole-steps, music theorists generally call the chromatic “scale” a chromatic collection; this is why the word “scale” is placed in scare quotes here. Example 10 shows two chromatic collections, the first starting on A and the second starting on E♭:
Example 10. Two chromatic collections starting on A and E♭.
As you can see in Example 10, chromatic collections are often (but not always) written with sharps while ascending, and with flats while descending. A chromatic collection that begins with a flat note (such as the second line in Example 10) is usually written with sharps while ascending, and with flats while descending. When you write chromatic collections don’t forget that there are two half-step white keys/notes: B/C and E/F.
- Writing Chromatic “Scales” Assignment #1 (.pdf, .mscx)
- Writing Chromatic “Scales” Assignment #2 (.pdf, .mscx)
A collection of notes which consists of twelve half-steps
