Scale · Guitar
A Chromatic Scale · Guitar
Fretboard map · Guitar
Find every available note across the first 12 frets.
Notes
A · B♭ · B · C · C♯ · D · E♭ · E · F · F♯ · G · G♯
Root: A
Intervals
1 · ♭2 · 2 · ♭3 · 3 · 4 · ♭5 · 5 · ♭6 · 6 · ♭7 · 7
How it is built
This scale starts on A and applies the intervals 1, ♭2, 2, ♭3, 3, 4, ♭5, 5, ♭6, 6, ♭7, 7. The result contains 12 distinct pitch classes per octave.
Explore related combinations
Guide and musical context
About A Chromatic Guitar Scale
A Chromatic Guitar scale uses the notes A, B♭, B, C, C♯, D, E♭, E, F, F♯, G, G♯. Its character is fully symmetric at the semitone level because it contains all twelve pitch classes.
Character and sound
Fully symmetric at the semitone level because it contains all twelve pitch classes.
Musical context and history
The chromatic scale contains every semitone in the twelve-note system. It does not define a key by itself and serves as the complete collection for chromatic approaches and technique.
How and where it is used
Use it for exercises, passing lines, ornamentation, jazz, contemporary music and any situation requiring notes outside a diatonic scale.
On guitar, the same pitch collection can appear in several fretboard positions. Favor comfortable fingerings, guide tones and open strings when useful; the map shows all available positions across the first twelve frets. Everything you see and hear on this page comes from the same note set shown above.
Harmonic and musical relationships
A practical way to understand this scale is to compare it with the major and minor scales starting on A. The altered notes are exactly what create its characteristic color.
The formula on this page is 1 · ♭2 · 2 · ♭3 · 3 · 4 · ♭5 · 5 · ♭6 · 6 · ♭7 · 7 and, from A, produces the notes A · B♭ · B · C · C♯ · D · E♭ · E · F · F♯ · G · G♯.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the A Chromatic Guitar scale?
The notes are A, B♭, B, C, C♯, D, E♭, E, F, F♯, G, G♯.
What is its interval formula?
The formula is 1 · ♭2 · 2 · ♭3 · 3 · 4 · ♭5 · 5 · ♭6 · 6 · ♭7 · 7.
How does it sound and what is it used for?
Fully symmetric at the semitone level because it contains all twelve pitch classes. Use it for exercises, passing lines, ornamentation, jazz, contemporary music and any situation requiring notes outside a diatonic scale.
How can I check it on Guitar?
Use the interactive diagram on this page and press Play or Note by note. The highlighted positions, written notes and playback all use the same pitch collection.