Chromatic

The chromatic scale simply uses every half step. So it has twelve tones per octave. It is rarely used in its entirety. Rather, small portions of the scale may be used within another tonality to “smooth out” a line and add some passing chromatic interest.

⤢

Chromatic scale, positional (all tonalities)

Since all tones are equidistant, there is no structure that the ear can “latch on” to and regard as the root. We say it is an atonal scale. Any note can be made to be the root, so there is really only one chromatic scale. (Or, to say it another way, every chromatic scale is a mode of every other chromatic scale.) The same “positional” pattern, then, may be played at any fret. The only difference is when open strings are involved. Below, it is shown starting on the low E.

⤢

Here it is played from A to A, in fifth/fourth position. Slide either your first or fourth finger to play five notes per string.

⤢

Chromatic scale, up a single string

Below, the chromatic scale is played from A to A, up and down on a single string. Use the fingering 0–1–2–3–4, then shift up to fifth position and use 1–2–3–4, then shift up again to ninth position for another 1–2–3–4. Reverse the sequence to come back down.

⤢