• All pitches are a half step apart.


• When notating an ascending chromatic scale, sharps are usually used to identify black keys. When descend-
  ing, flats are usually used.


• There are 12 differentpitches in a chromatic scale; the thirteenth pitch is the octave note.


• Although this is called a chromaticscale, both chromatichalf steps (C–C#)and diatonichalf steps (C#–D)
  are used. Note that diatonic spellings usually are used for the two pairs of white key half steps, E–F and
  B–C.

Exercise 7

1. Ascending chromatic scale

Ascending and descending chromatic scales are drawn below. Note that ascending scales use sharps,

descending scales use flats.

Identify which half steps are chromatic (Ch) and which half steps are diatonic (Dia). The first four are given.

2. Descending chromatic scale

95

ACCIDENTALS

C Cb

b

Incorrect

(C and B are enharmonics)

C B

Correct

E E#

Incorrect

E#and F are enharmonics

E F

Correct

C C D D E F F G G A A B C

Ch Dia Ch Dia

# # #

Dia

b b b b b