A Chromatic Scale on Piano

The A Chromatic scale sounds all twelve tones. It runs A – A# – B – C – C# – D – D# – E – F – F# – G – G#.

Interval Circle

HHHHHHHHHHHHCb3C#3D4D#b5E5Fb6F#6Gb7G#7A1A#b2B2

All twelve semitones, root at the top. Filled dots are the notes of the scale, the outer numbers are their degrees, and W / H mark the whole and half steps between them.

About This Scale

Every semitone inside the octave, in order. It has no tonal centre of its own, so it functions as a colouring device and as the standard exercise for training the thumb-under motion across black and white keys alike.

Fingering

Right Hand (ascending)

1-3-1-2-3-1-3-1-2-3-1-3-1

Left Hand (ascending)

1-3-2-1-3-1-3-2-1-3-1-3-1

Why this fingering

5 black keys (A#, C#, D#, F#, G#) sit in this scale, and the thumb has to avoid them. In the right hand the thumb crosses under onto B, D, E and G; let the elbow drift slightly outward as it passes rather than twisting the wrist.

The blue dots on the piano below show which keys to press — they turn green when you play the right note.

Notes in A Chromatic

NoteIntervalRH FingerLH Finger
AA4Root (1)11
A#A#4Minor 2nd (b2)33
BB4Major 2nd (2)12
CC5Minor 3rd (b3)21
C#C#5Major 3rd (3)33
DD5Perfect 4th (4)11
D#D#5Tritone (b5)33
EE5Perfect 5th (5)12
FF5Minor 6th (b6)21
F#F#5Major 6th (6)33
GG5Minor 7th (b7)11
G#G#5Major 7th (7)33
AA5Octave (8)11

Other Chromatic Scales

C Chromatic
C – C# – D – D# – E – F – F# – G – G# – A – A# – B
Db Chromatic
Db – D – Eb – E – F – Gb – G – Ab – A – Bb – B – C
D Chromatic
D – D# – E – F – F# – G – G# – A – A# – B – C – C#
Eb Chromatic
Eb – E – F – Gb – G – Ab – A – Bb – B – C – Db – D
E Chromatic
E – F – F# – G – G# – A – A# – B – C – C# – D – D#
F Chromatic
F – Gb – G – Ab – A – Bb – B – C – Db – D – Eb – E
F# Chromatic
F# – G – G# – A – A# – B – C – C# – D – D# – E – F
G Chromatic
G – G# – A – A# – B – C – C# – D – D# – E – F – F#
Ab Chromatic
Ab – A – Bb – B – C – Db – D – Eb – E – F – Gb – G
Bb Chromatic
Bb – B – C – Db – D – Eb – E – F – Gb – G – Ab – A
B Chromatic
B – C – C# – D – D# – E – F – F# – G – G# – A – A#

Other A Scales

A Major
A – B – C# – D – E – F# – G#
A Natural Minor
A – B – C – D – E – F – G
A Harmonic Minor
A – B – C – D – E – F – G#
A Melodic Minor
A – B – C – D – E – F# – G#
A Major Pentatonic
A – B – C# – E – F#
A Minor Pentatonic
A – C – D – E – G
A Blues
A – C – D – Eb – E – G
A Dorian
A – B – C – D – E – F# – G
A Mixolydian
A – B – C# – D – E – F# – G