F# Chromatic Scale on Piano

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

Interval Circle

HHHHHHHHHHHHCb5C#5Db6D#6Eb7F7F#1Gb2G#2Ab3A#3B4

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)

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

Left Hand (ascending)

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

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, 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
F#F#4Root (1)33
GG4Minor 2nd (b2)11
G#G#4Major 2nd (2)33
AA4Minor 3rd (b3)11
A#A#4Major 3rd (3)33
BB4Perfect 4th (4)12
CC5Tritone (b5)21
C#C#5Perfect 5th (5)33
DD5Minor 6th (b6)11
D#D#5Major 6th (6)33
EE5Minor 7th (b7)12
FF5Major 7th (7)21
F#F#5Octave (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
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# – B – C# – D# – E#
F# Natural Minor
F# – G# – A – B – C# – D – E
F# Harmonic Minor
F# – G# – A – B – C# – D – E#
F# Melodic Minor
F# – G# – A – B – C# – D# – E#
F# Major Pentatonic
F# – G# – A# – C# – D#
F# Minor Pentatonic
F# – A – B – C# – E
F# Blues
F# – A – B – C – C# – E
F# Dorian
F# – G# – A – B – C# – D# – E
F# Mixolydian
F# – G# – A# – B – C# – D# – E