What is a chromatic scale?

[simon73]

Hello!

I have been practicing piano by myself (self taught) on scales and arpeggios, and was told to practice chromatic scales too. What are they? and how does he fingering works?

Please tell me where i can get maybe a chart of those scales or something.

thanks

[pianistimo]

quoting james francis cooke:  'the fingering of the chromatic scale is very much simpler than that of either the major or minor scale...short distances...three fingerings of this scale are in use and they are here given in the order most frequently seen:

french fingering:  rh (starting on mid-C) 23 13 123 13 13 12 (then backwards)
lh 431 321 31 31 321 (then backwards)

english fingering:  rh 23 13 123 1234 12 (then backwards)
lh 431 321 4321 321

german fingering: rh 23 12 12 31 31 31 2 (then backwards)
lh 12 132 12 12 132 1 (then backwards)

now - oddly - i never learned any of these and play all the black notes with the third finger.  the rh E and F (and B C ) are 12  and the lh E and F (and B C) are 21.  every other white note is thumb.  this is probably the easiest fingering to learn at first - although the others above look faster.  not sure how easy they are to play evenly.  i find this fingering good for now - but it depends on what you are playing and how you want to play it. 

[pianowolfi]

Hello!

I have been practicing piano by myself (self taught) on scales and arpeggios, and was told to practice chromatic scales too. What are they? and how does he fingering works?

Please tell me where i can get maybe a chart of those scales or something.

thanks

Chromatic scale is playing every key. The term "chroma" is Greek and means "colour" in the sense of adding various "colours" to the diatonic (seven-note-) scale.

I was never happy whith this 23 131231313 12 fingering. I can't play it fast. And I always get mixed up. I prefer strongly what Pianistimo quoted as "english fingering" 23 13 123 1234 12.  Another fingering, a bit unusual: 1234 12345 123 1

[michael_langlois]

And for those audacious few, a rare variant: 22222222222.  Repeat as desired.

Best,
ML

[simon73]

What are the keys involved in these chromatic scales?

Thanks for all the help and advice!!!

[pianistimo]

there are no 'keys' but there are notes.  half-steps.  all the notes of the chromatic scale are half-steps.  you can start and end anywhere you like.  typically, people start on C - but in cadenzas for piano concertos and places of improvisation - it's a quick way to get from spot A to spot B without a lot of thought.

C C# D D# E F ...

chromatic scales are in opposition to diatonic and modal scales.  diatonic is the word used for the scales that use 7 notes out of all 12 diatonic notes to express a certain sound.  major scales are based on a pattern of two whole steps, 1/2 step, three whole steps, then another 1/2 step.  you can pick any note of the piano and play a major scale that way.

[pianochick93]

What are the keys involved in these chromatic scales?

Thanks for all the help and advice!!!

Pick a 2 keys an octave apart, start on one, and play every key in between that and the next one. (every black and white key)

I use the 1313123131312 fingering and it works fine for me, I can't go very fast though

[simon73]

ok will try those out... hehe

thanks!! do they work for any note??? even starting at E not C?

[pianochick93]

Starting at E, the fingering I would use would be: 1231313123131.

[michael_langlois]

No one for the sliding and hopping index finger?

[slobone]

Do you have Hanon? He has chromatic scales in octaves, thirds, minor sixths, major sixths, and... something else, I forget what. By the time you get done with them you'll either be an expert at them or you'll be ready for the loony bin...