D Chromatic Scale on Piano

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

Interval Circle

HHHHHHHHHHHHCb7C#7D1D#b2E2Fb3F#3G4G#b5A5A#b6B6

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)

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

Left Hand (ascending)

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

Why this fingering

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

NoteIntervalRH FingerLH Finger
DD4Root (1)11
D#D#4Minor 2nd (b2)33
EE4Major 2nd (2)12
FF4Minor 3rd (b3)21
F#F#4Major 3rd (3)33
GG4Perfect 4th (4)11
G#G#4Tritone (b5)33
AA4Perfect 5th (5)11
A#A#4Minor 6th (b6)33
BB4Major 6th (6)12
CC5Minor 7th (b7)21
C#C#5Major 7th (7)33
DD5Octave (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
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 D Scales

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