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. shows two chromatic collections, the first starting on A and the second starting on E♭:
As you can see in
, 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 ) 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