B Chromatic Scale on Piano

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

Interval Circle

HHHHHHHHHHHHCb2C#2Db3D#3E4Fb5F#5Gb6G#6Ab7A#7B1

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)

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

Left Hand (ascending)

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

Why this fingering

5 black keys (C#, D#, F#, G#, A#) sit in this scale, and the thumb has to avoid them. In the right hand the thumb crosses under onto D, E, G and A; 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 B Chromatic

NoteIntervalRH FingerLH Finger
BB4Root (1)12
CC5Minor 2nd (b2)21
C#C#5Major 2nd (2)33
DD5Minor 3rd (b3)11
D#D#5Major 3rd (3)33
EE5Perfect 4th (4)12
FF5Tritone (b5)21
F#F#5Perfect 5th (5)33
GG5Minor 6th (b6)11
G#G#5Major 6th (6)33
AA5Minor 7th (b7)11
A#A#5Major 7th (7)33
BB5Octave (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
A Chromatic
A – A# – B – C – C# – D – D# – E – F – F# – G – G#
Bb Chromatic
Bb – B – C – Db – D – Eb – E – F – Gb – G – Ab – A

Other B Scales

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