C Chromatic Scale on Piano

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

Interval Circle

HHHHHHHHHHHHC1C#b2D2D#b3E3F4F#b5G5G#b6A6A#b7B7

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)

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

Left Hand (ascending)

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

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, A and B; 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 C Chromatic

NoteIntervalRH FingerLH Finger
CC4Root (1)11
C#C#4Minor 2nd (b2)33
DD4Major 2nd (2)11
D#D#4Minor 3rd (b3)33
EE4Major 3rd (3)12
FF4Perfect 4th (4)21
F#F#4Tritone (b5)33
GG4Perfect 5th (5)11
G#G#4Minor 6th (b6)33
AA4Major 6th (6)11
A#A#4Minor 7th (b7)33
BB4Major 7th (7)12
CC5Octave (8)21

Other Chromatic Scales

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

Other C Scales

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