Explore scales · Bass
C♯ chromatic scale on bass guitar
C♯ chromatic contains C♯, C♯♯, D♯, D♯♯, E♯, F♯, F♯♯, G♯, G♯♯, A♯, A♯♯, and B♯. Box 3 keeps the root on string 4, fret 9 for an upper-position run.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♯1, 2, ♯2, 3, 4, ♯4, 5, ♯5, 6, ♯6, 7
How do you play the C♯ chromatic scale on bass?
C♯ chromatic in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 16 notes across 4 strings, from D♯♯ on the E string at fret 0 up to A♯ on the G string at fret 3. No root falls inside this box; it sits between two of them.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | D♯♯, E♯, F♯, F♯♯ |
| 3 (A) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | G♯♯, A♯, A♯♯, B♯ |
| 2 (D) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | C♯♯, D♯, D♯♯, E♯ |
| 1 (G) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | F♯♯, G♯, G♯♯, A♯ |
Box 2 · frets 2–5
C♯ chromatic in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 16 notes across 4 strings, from F♯ on the E string at fret 2 up to B♯ on the G string at fret 5. The root falls on the A string at fret 4.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | F♯, F♯♯, G♯, G♯♯ |
| 3 (A) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | A♯♯, B♯, C♯, C♯♯ |
| 2 (D) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | D♯♯, E♯, F♯, F♯♯ |
| 1 (G) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | G♯♯, A♯, A♯♯, B♯ |
Box 3 · frets 4–7
C♯ chromatic in box 3 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 16 notes across 4 strings, from G♯ on the E string at fret 4 up to C♯♯ on the G string at fret 7. The root falls on the A string at fret 4 and the G string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | G♯, G♯♯, A♯, A♯♯ |
| 3 (A) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | C♯, C♯♯, D♯, D♯♯ |
| 2 (D) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | F♯, F♯♯, G♯, G♯♯ |
| 1 (G) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | A♯♯, B♯, C♯, C♯♯ |
Box 4 · frets 6–9
C♯ chromatic in box 4 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 16 notes across 4 strings, from A♯ on the E string at fret 6 up to D♯♯ on the G string at fret 9. The root falls on the E string at fret 9 and the G string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 6, 7, 8, 9 | A♯, A♯♯, B♯, C♯ |
| 3 (A) | 6, 7, 8, 9 | D♯, D♯♯, E♯, F♯ |
| 2 (D) | 6, 7, 8, 9 | G♯, G♯♯, A♯, A♯♯ |
| 1 (G) | 6, 7, 8, 9 | C♯, C♯♯, D♯, D♯♯ |
Box 5 · frets 9–12
C♯ chromatic in box 5 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 16 notes across 4 strings, from C♯ on the E string at fret 9 up to F♯♯ on the G string at fret 12. The root falls on the E string at fret 9 and the D string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 9, 10, 11, 12 | C♯, C♯♯, D♯, D♯♯ |
| 3 (A) | 9, 10, 11, 12 | F♯, F♯♯, G♯, G♯♯ |
| 2 (D) | 9, 10, 11, 12 | A♯♯, B♯, C♯, C♯♯ |
| 1 (G) | 9, 10, 11, 12 | D♯♯, E♯, F♯, F♯♯ |
Box 6 · frets 11–14
C♯ chromatic in box 6 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 16 notes across 4 strings, from D♯ on the E string at fret 11 up to G♯♯ on the G string at fret 14. The root falls on the D string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 11, 12, 13, 14 | D♯, D♯♯, E♯, F♯ |
| 3 (A) | 11, 12, 13, 14 | G♯, G♯♯, A♯, A♯♯ |
| 2 (D) | 11, 12, 13, 14 | C♯, C♯♯, D♯, D♯♯ |
| 1 (G) | 11, 12, 13, 14 | F♯, F♯♯, G♯, G♯♯ |
Why it sounds like that
C♯ chromatic is the complete twelve-note collection, each note a half step from the next. It contains a tritone and a leading tone. Compare it with C♯ bebop dominant, which omits four chromatic notes.
When to use it
C♯ chromatic works over any chord rooted on its twelve notes, including C♯ major and C♯ minor. Use it for chromatic passing tones in C♯ major or C♯ minor keys. C♯ chromatic suits jazz walking lines and metal runs.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 3 first. The root sits on string 4, fret 9, and the pattern covers frets 4–7 without position shifts.
Common questions
Which notes are in C♯ chromatic?
C♯ chromatic includes C♯, C♯♯, D♯, D♯♯, E♯, F♯, F♯♯, G♯, G♯♯, A♯, A♯♯, and B♯. It is every half step within one octave. The scale contains all twelve pitch classes. It is also spelled D♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What chords does C♯ chromatic fit?
C♯ chromatic fits any chord whose root is one of its notes, such as C♯ major or C♯ minor. Use it as a passing-tone source over static harmony. It is not a chord-scale for diatonic progressions.
How do I practise C♯ chromatic on bass?
Start on C♯ at string 4, fret 9, and play every fret up to C♯ at string 1, fret 6. Use one finger per fret and descend without pausing. Set a metronome to 60 bpm and play one note per click.