E Chromatic Scale on Piano

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

Interval Circle

HHHHHHHHHHHHCb6C#6Db7D#7E1Fb2F#2Gb3G#3A4A#b5B5

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)

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

Left Hand (ascending)

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

Why this fingering

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

NoteIntervalRH FingerLH Finger
EE4Root (1)12
FF4Minor 2nd (b2)21
F#F#4Major 2nd (2)33
GG4Minor 3rd (b3)11
G#G#4Major 3rd (3)33
AA4Perfect 4th (4)11
A#A#4Tritone (b5)33
BB4Perfect 5th (5)12
CC5Minor 6th (b6)21
C#C#5Major 6th (6)33
DD5Minor 7th (b7)11
D#D#5Major 7th (7)33
EE5Octave (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
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 E Scales

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