G Chromatic Scale on Piano

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

Interval Circle

HHHHHHHHHHHHC4C#b5D5D#b6E6Fb7F#7G1G#b2A2A#b3B3

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)

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

Left Hand (ascending)

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

Why this fingering

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

NoteIntervalRH FingerLH Finger
GG4Root (1)11
G#G#4Minor 2nd (b2)33
AA4Major 2nd (2)11
A#A#4Minor 3rd (b3)33
BB4Major 3rd (3)12
CC5Perfect 4th (4)21
C#C#5Tritone (b5)33
DD5Perfect 5th (5)11
D#D#5Minor 6th (b6)33
EE5Major 6th (6)12
FF5Minor 7th (b7)21
F#F#5Major 7th (7)33
GG5Octave (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
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
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 G Scales

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