Other scales
The chromatic scale
The chromatic scale plays every key in turn, white and black, each a half step from the last: C C♯ D D♯ E F F♯ G G♯ A A♯ B C. Here it is from C for both hands with the standard fingering, written with sharps going up and flats coming down.
- 12 notes, all half steps
- 3 on every black key
- RH 2 on F and C
- LH 2 on E and B
Listen with the cursor following the notes, or play along: the music waits for each note, and the keys show which finger to use.
The notes
Going up from C: C, C♯, D, D♯, E, F, F♯, G, G♯, A, A♯, B, C. Coming down: C, B, B♭, A, A♭, G, G♭, F, E, E♭, D, D♭, C. The same keys either way; only the names change, so that each note leads to the next by its letter.
| Going up | Right hand | Left hand | Coming down |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 1 | 1 | C |
| C♯ | 3 | 3 | D♭ |
| D | 1 | 1 | D |
| D♯ | 3 | 3 | E♭ |
| E | 1 | 2 | E |
| F | 2 | 1 | F |
| F♯ | 3 | 3 | G♭ |
| G | 1 | 1 | G |
| G♯ | 3 | 3 | A♭ |
| A | 1 | 1 | A |
| A♯ | 3 | 3 | B♭ |
| B | 1 | 2 | B |
| C | 2 | 1 | C |
Fingering
Right hand: 1 3 1 3 1 2 3 1 3 1 3 1 2 going up. The third finger plays every black key, and the thumb the white keys, passing under the third. Where two white keys sit side by side, E–F and B–C, the second finger takes the upper one, F and C, so the thumb never plays two notes in a row.
Left hand: 1 3 1 3 2 1 3 1 3 1 3 2 1 going up. The same idea from the other side: 3 on the black keys and the thumb on the white, with the second finger on the lower of two white keys side by side, E and B.
Keep the hand close to the black keys, so the thumb and third finger only move a little between them, and let the wrist travel smoothly sideways rather than turning at each crossing. Some teachers use 1 2 3 4 groups for speed; the 1–3 fingering here is the one most books start with, and the one exam boards expect.
How to practise it
- Right hand alone first, saying “three” on each black key. The pattern is simple; it’s keeping it even that takes time.
- Listen for evenness: twelve half steps should sound like one smooth slide, with no bump where the second finger comes in.
- Hands together, the hands play 3 together on every black key, but differ on the white keys around E–F and B–C. Go slowly there.
- Use “Play along” above: it waits for each note, so you can check every finger at your own pace.
Quick answers
- What is the fingering for the chromatic scale?
- The third finger plays every black key and the thumb most white keys; where two white keys sit side by side, the second finger takes one of them: F and C in the right hand, E and B in the left.
- How many notes are in the chromatic scale?
- Twelve: every key, white and black, in one octave, each a half step from the next. Played up to the next C, it is thirteen keys.
- Is the chromatic scale written with sharps or flats?
- Usually sharps going up and flats coming down, as here, so each note leads to the next by its name: C, C♯, D going up; D, D♭, C coming down.
Scales, then real music
Pianomi is a free app that listens to your MIDI keyboard. It takes you through scales and arpeggios at a steady tempo, grading every note and beat, and gives you new music to sight-read every day, at your level.