Chromatic scale

Chromatic scale

Qualities
Number of pitch classes	12
Maximal evenness Degenerate well-formed collection

The chromatic scale is a musical scale with twelve pitches, each a semitone apart. On a modern piano or other equal-tempered instrument, all the half steps are the same size. An equal tempered chromatic scale is a nondiatonic scale having no tonic because of the symmetry of its equally spaced tones.^[1]

Chromatic scale on C: full octave ascending and descending  Play in equal temperament (help·info) or  Play in Pythagorean tuning (help·info).

The most common conception of the chromatic scale before the 13th century was the Pythagorean chromatic scale. Due to a different tuning technique, the twelve semitones in this scale have two slightly different sizes. Thus, the scale is not perfectly symmetric. Many other tuning systems, developed in the ensuing centuries, share a similar asymmetry. Equally spaced pitches are provided only by equal temperament tuning systems, which are widely used in contemporary music.

The term chromatic derives from the Greek word chroma, meaning color. Chromatic notes are traditionally understood as harmonically inessential embellishments, shadings, or inflections of diatonic notes.

Notation

The chromatic scale may be notated in a variety of ways:

Ascending and descending:^[1]

The chromatic scale has no set spelling agreed upon by all. Its spelling is, however, often dependent upon major or minor key signatures and whether the scale is ascending or descending. The images above, therefore, are only examples of chromatic scale notations. As an abstract theoretical entity (that is, outside a particular musical context), the chromatic scale is usually notated such that no scale degree is used more than twice in succession (for instance G flat - G natural - G sharp).

Nonwestern cultures

• The ancient Chinese chromatic scale is called Shi Er Lü. However, "it should not be imagined that this gamut ever functioned as a scale, and it is erroneous to refer to the 'Chinese chromatic scale', as some Western writers have done. The series of twelve notes known as the twelve lü were simply a series of fundamental notes from which scales could be constructed."^[2]
• The Indian solfège, i.e. sargam, makes up the twelve notes of the chromatic scale with respective sharps and flats.

See also

• Chromaticism
• Chromatic circle
• Atonality
• 20th century music - Classical
• All Through the Night (Cole Porter song)
• Hicaz Hümâyun Saz Semâisi - Turkish song, highlighting differences from the twelve-semitone scale

Sources

1. ^ ^{a b} Benward & Saker (2003). Music: In Theory and Practice, Vol. I, p.47. Seventh Edition. ISBN 978-0-07-294262-0.
2. ^ Needham, Joseph (1962/2004). Science and Civilization in China, Vol. IV: Physics and Physical Technology, p.170-171. ISBN 9780521058025.

External links

• The Chromatic Scale arranged for guitar in several fingerings. (Formatted for easy printing)

• The 12 golden notes of music