Bb Chromatic Scale on Piano

The Bb Chromatic scale sounds all twelve tones. It runs Bb – B – C – Db – D – Eb – E – F – Gb – G – Ab – A.

Interval Circle

HHHHHHHHHHHHC2Dbb3D3Eb4Eb5F5Gbb6G6Abb7A7Bb1Bb2

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)

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

Left Hand (ascending)

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

Why this fingering

5 black keys (Bb, Db, Eb, Gb, Ab) sit in this scale, and the thumb has to avoid them. In the right hand the thumb crosses under onto B, 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 Bb Chromatic

NoteIntervalRH FingerLH Finger
BbBb4Root (1)33
BB4Minor 2nd (b2)12
CC5Major 2nd (2)21
DbDb5Minor 3rd (b3)33
DD5Major 3rd (3)11
EbEb5Perfect 4th (4)33
EE5Tritone (b5)12
FF5Perfect 5th (5)21
GbGb5Minor 6th (b6)33
GG5Major 6th (6)11
AbAb5Minor 7th (b7)33
AA5Major 7th (7)11
BbBb5Octave (8)33

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#
B Chromatic
B – C – C# – D – D# – E – F – F# – G – G# – A – A#

Other Bb Scales

Bb Major
Bb – C – D – Eb – F – G – A
Bb Natural Minor
Bb – C – Db – Eb – F – Gb – Ab
Bb Harmonic Minor
Bb – C – Db – Eb – F – Gb – A
Bb Melodic Minor
Bb – C – Db – Eb – F – G – A
Bb Major Pentatonic
Bb – C – D – F – G
Bb Minor Pentatonic
Bb – Db – Eb – F – Ab
Bb Blues
Bb – Db – Eb – E – F – Ab
Bb Dorian
Bb – C – Db – Eb – F – G – Ab
Bb Mixolydian
Bb – C – D – Eb – F – G – Ab