chromatic scale explained
A scale containing all twelve semitones within an octave, ascending and descending by half steps only
In Depth
The [chromatic scale](/term/chromatic%20scale) is the complete collection of all available pitches in Western music. It has no tonal centre and no modal quality — it is pure intervallic content. Chromatic passages are used for colour, tension, and virtuosic display. In notation, ascending chromatic scales are typically spelled with sharps and descending scales with flats, though enharmonic context may override this convention. The chromatic scale is the raw material from which all other scales and chords are derived.
The word chromatic comes from the Greek chroma, meaning colour — chromatic notes add colour to the diatonic framework, just as paint adds colour to a sketch.