F Chromatic Scale on Piano

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

Interval Circle

HHHHHHHHHHHHC5Dbb6D6Ebb7E7F1Gbb2G2Abb3A3Bb4Bb5

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)

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

Left Hand (ascending)

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

Why this fingering

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

NoteIntervalRH FingerLH Finger
FF4Root (1)11
GbGb4Minor 2nd (b2)33
GG4Major 2nd (2)11
AbAb4Minor 3rd (b3)33
AA4Major 3rd (3)11
BbBb4Perfect 4th (4)33
BB4Tritone (b5)12
CC5Perfect 5th (5)21
DbDb5Minor 6th (b6)33
DD5Major 6th (6)11
EbEb5Minor 7th (b7)33
EE5Major 7th (7)12
FF5Octave (8)21

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# – 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 F Scales

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