Explore scales · Guitar
A chromatic scale on guitar
A chromatic uses A, A♯, B, B♯, C♯, D, D♯, E, E♯, F♯, F♯♯, G♯. Box 1 places the root on string 6, fret 5 for a compact five-fret span.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♯1, 2, ♯2, 3, 4, ♯4, 5, ♯5, 6, ♯6, 7
How do you play the A chromatic scale on guitar?
A chromatic in box 1 runs from fret 0 to fret 3, 24 notes across 6 strings, from E on the low E string at fret 0 up to F♯♯ on the high e string at fret 3. The root falls on the A string at fret 0 and the G string at fret 2.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | E, E♯, F♯, F♯♯ |
| 5 (A) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | A, A♯, B, B♯ |
| 4 (D) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | D, D♯, E, E♯ |
| 3 (G) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | F♯♯, G♯, A, A♯ |
| 2 (B) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | B, B♯, C♯, D |
| 1 (e) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | E, E♯, F♯, F♯♯ |
Box 2 · frets 2–5
A chromatic in box 2 runs from fret 2 to fret 5, 24 notes across 6 strings, from F♯ on the low E string at fret 2 up to A on the high e string at fret 5. The root falls on the low E string at fret 5, the G string at fret 2 and the high e string at fret 5.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | F♯, F♯♯, G♯, A |
| 5 (A) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | B, B♯, C♯, D |
| 4 (D) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | E, E♯, F♯, F♯♯ |
| 3 (G) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | A, A♯, B, B♯ |
| 2 (B) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | C♯, D, D♯, E |
| 1 (e) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | F♯, F♯♯, G♯, A |
Box 3 · frets 5–8
A chromatic in box 3 runs from fret 5 to fret 8, 24 notes across 6 strings, from A on the low E string at fret 5 up to B♯ on the high e string at fret 8. The root falls on the low E string at fret 5, the D string at fret 7 and the high e string at fret 5.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 5, 6, 7, 8 | A, A♯, B, B♯ |
| 5 (A) | 5, 6, 7, 8 | D, D♯, E, E♯ |
| 4 (D) | 5, 6, 7, 8 | F♯♯, G♯, A, A♯ |
| 3 (G) | 5, 6, 7, 8 | B♯, C♯, D, D♯ |
| 2 (B) | 5, 6, 7, 8 | E, E♯, F♯, F♯♯ |
| 1 (e) | 5, 6, 7, 8 | A, A♯, B, B♯ |
Box 4 · frets 7–10
A chromatic in box 4 runs from fret 7 to fret 10, 24 notes across 6 strings, from B on the low E string at fret 7 up to D on the high e string at fret 10. The root falls on the D string at fret 7 and the B string at fret 10.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 7, 8, 9, 10 | B, B♯, C♯, D |
| 5 (A) | 7, 8, 9, 10 | E, E♯, F♯, F♯♯ |
| 4 (D) | 7, 8, 9, 10 | A, A♯, B, B♯ |
| 3 (G) | 7, 8, 9, 10 | D, D♯, E, E♯ |
| 2 (B) | 7, 8, 9, 10 | F♯, F♯♯, G♯, A |
| 1 (e) | 7, 8, 9, 10 | B, B♯, C♯, D |
Box 5 · frets 9–12
A chromatic in box 5 runs from fret 9 to fret 12, 24 notes across 6 strings, from C♯ on the low E string at fret 9 up to E on the high e string at fret 12. The root falls on the A string at fret 12 and the B string at fret 10.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 9, 10, 11, 12 | C♯, D, D♯, E |
| 5 (A) | 9, 10, 11, 12 | F♯, F♯♯, G♯, A |
| 4 (D) | 9, 10, 11, 12 | B, B♯, C♯, D |
| 3 (G) | 9, 10, 11, 12 | E, E♯, F♯, F♯♯ |
| 2 (B) | 9, 10, 11, 12 | G♯, A, A♯, B |
| 1 (e) | 9, 10, 11, 12 | C♯, D, D♯, E |
Box 6 · frets 11–14
A chromatic in box 6 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 24 notes across 6 strings, from D♯ on the low E string at fret 11 up to F♯ on the high e string at fret 14. The root falls on the A string at fret 12 and the G string at fret 14.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 11, 12, 13, 14 | D♯, E, E♯, F♯ |
| 5 (A) | 11, 12, 13, 14 | G♯, A, A♯, B |
| 4 (D) | 11, 12, 13, 14 | C♯, D, D♯, E |
| 3 (G) | 11, 12, 13, 14 | F♯, F♯♯, G♯, A |
| 2 (B) | 11, 12, 13, 14 | A♯, B, B♯, C♯ |
| 1 (e) | 11, 12, 13, 14 | D♯, E, E♯, F♯ |
Why it sounds like that
Build A chromatic by taking the seven notes of A bebop dominant and adding the missing semitones between every pair. The result is twelve half steps, intervals 0 through 11, with no gaps larger than a semitone. Compare it with A bebop dominant to hear how the extra notes fill every available fret.
When to use it
Use A chromatic over A major or A minor when you need passing tones between chord tones. It fits dominant progressions in A, especially with A major or A minor. Jazz and fusion lines often borrow these semitones for tension.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first: the root sits on string 6, fret 5, covering frets 0–3. It keeps the hand compact and sets up Box 2 by shifting up two frets.
Common questions
Which notes are in A chromatic?
A chromatic contains A, A♯, B, B♯, C♯, D, D♯, E, E♯, F♯, F♯♯, G♯. It is every semitone from A to the next A. There are twelve notes in total.
What chords fit A chromatic?
Any chord with root A works because the scale includes every pitch. Try A major or A minor and use chromatic passing tones. The scale adds colour without changing the chord quality.
How is A chromatic different from A bebop dominant?
A bebop dominant has eight notes; A chromatic adds the four missing semitones. The chromatic scale fills every fret, while bebop dominant skips some. Both share the same root and many chord tones.