The Chromatic Scale

The chromatic scale holds every note available on the piano, made up of a sequential half-step pattern. Each of these steps can be referred to as a ‘chromatic step’, ‘half step’, or ‘semi-tone’. As this scale includes all notes, there is only one chromatic scale. The only variance is the starting and finishing tone/note.

APPLICATION IN MUSIC

1. A chromatic scale fragment could be used as a walking bass idea under a dominant chord

2. A chromatic scale fragment could be used in an improvisation over a V-I progression, ascending from the root of the dominant chord to the root of a I chord