Brainlag Plus

Chromatic scales

Music theory, Keys and scales, 9 minutes

The scale that moves by semitones, how it is spelt with sharps going up and flats coming down, and the letter-name rule exam questions check.

Every step a semitone

A chromatic scale moves by semitones only: twelve steps to the octave, thirteen notes from the start to the octave above.

There are several ways to spell it. This course uses one simple rule, and the questions say so when it matters:

Going up, write the sharps: C, C sharp, D, D sharp, E, F, F sharp and so on.
Coming down, write the flats: C, B, B flat, A, A flat and so on.

The chromatic scale up from C, with sharps

The rest of this lesson and its 4 practice questions are in Plus.

Screen 1 of 3, free to read.