#A CHROMATIC SCALE HOW TO#

We can use chromatic scales to practice shifting, speed, tone quality, or anything else we can think of.

From the low e string to the high e string.īecause it’s easy to remember, we can focus our attention on other aspects of technique. We can practice the chromatic scale as a technical exercise all over the guitar neck. This is one of the elements that create recognizable styles of music. Different styles of music often use chromaticism in characteristic ways. Approaching a musical arrival point by moving step by step “pulls” the ear toward that note.Ĭhromatic notes can also give the music a certain style, such as blues, tango, or Brazilian choro. While we do sometimes find examples of entire twelve-note scales, we more often see a few chromatic notes that move through adjacent frets.Ĭhromatic scales can emphasize an arrival point. More times than not, chromaticism uses snippets of the chromatic scale.

On tablature (TABs), we’ll see consecutive numbers, such as 2345. When we see a cluster of accidentals, we can guess that there’s a chromatic scale at work. A-flat chromatic scale No.A high concentration of sharps and flats may signal a chromatic scale. The final 13th note is the octave note, having the same name as the starting note. In this case, the first explanation above applies - we will continue to use flat notes ascending and descending to match the scale. An example A-flat chromatic scaleįor this example - the chromatic scale in the key of Ab, let's assume that we are working with a key that is on the circle of 5ths - Ab major scale, which is a flat-based key signature, and we want to identify some chromatic scale notes outside that key. when playing the notes from lowest to the highest pitch, then use flats when descending.

#A CHROMATIC SCALE HOW TO#

Chromatic scales without a key signatureįor both C major key signature and A natural minor key signature, there are no sharp or flat notes, so since there is no key signature, we have no clue as to whether to use sharp or flat names to identify any non-natural notes.Īlthough there seem to be no generally agreed rules on how to handle this, one common music theory convention is to use sharps when ascending the scale ie. Eb major key signature, where flat note names would be used. The same principle applies to flat-based key signatures, eg. G major key signature, and we want to use the chromatic scale to identify notes outside that scale, sharps would be used for those chromatic scale notes. 3) Flatten the 2nd note of each note pair. (C - C, Eb - Eb, etc.) 2) Write 'two' of each note between the end notes except for C and F. major scale, or any minor scale), then the key signature will be the guide as to whether to use sharps or flats for the chromatic scale.įor example, if a sharp-based key signature is used, eg. 1) Write the beginning and end note of the scale. If chromatic scale notes are being used and identified within the context of a scale with a key signature (eg. Chromatic scale naming in the context of a key signature ExtendedCentral - Made the Custom Scales. The reasons you need to credit them are below. When it comes to naming the notes shown in the last step, the decision to be made is whether to use sharp or flat note names, both ascending or descending. Sadly the files are too big for github so downlaod them here The Auto-Sliced Chromatic Scales Scales Note : If you plan on using any of these you must credit ExtendedCentral, KawaiSprite and the Creator that made the Original Mod. This step gives note names to the piano keys identified in the previous step.

A chromatic scale