C chromatic scale

C chromatic scale — notes and structure

The C chromatic scale is all twelve notes in order — every semitone, used for passing tones and tension.

The C chromatic scale consists of the notes C, D♭, D, E♭, E, F, G♭, G, A♭, A, B♭, B. Its interval structure is R–♭2–2–♭3–3–4–♯4–5–♭6–6–♭7–7 — the intervals from the root that give the scale its sound. This is the same scale you see in the interactive finder above, drawn on the piano keyboard with the root circled and every note labelled.

Its step pattern is half · half · half · half · half · half · half · half · half · half · half · half — the shape that makes it the chromatic scale in any key.

Play the 12 notes C, D♭, D, E♭, E, F, G♭, G, A♭, A, B♭, B in order from the root C; the interactive keyboard above lights up every note of the scale.