Explore scales · Guitar
C chromatic scale on guitar
C chromatic uses C, C♯, D, D♯, E, F, F♯, G, G♯, A, A♯, B. Box 1 starts on string 5, fret 3 and spans frets 0–3.
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 guitar?
C 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 G on the high e string at fret 3. The root falls on the A string at fret 3 and the B string at fret 1.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | E, F, F♯, G |
| 5 (A) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | A, A♯, B, C |
| 4 (D) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | D, D♯, E, F |
| 3 (G) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | G, G♯, A, A♯ |
| 2 (B) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | B, C, C♯, D |
| 1 (e) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | E, F, F♯, G |
Box 2 · frets 2–5
C 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 A string at fret 3 and the G string at fret 5.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | F♯, G, G♯, A |
| 5 (A) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | B, C, C♯, D |
| 4 (D) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | E, F, F♯, G |
| 3 (G) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | A, A♯, B, C |
| 2 (B) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | C♯, D, D♯, E |
| 1 (e) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | F♯, G, G♯, A |
Box 3 · frets 4–7
C chromatic in box 3 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 24 notes across 6 strings, from G♯ on the low E string at fret 4 up to B on the high e string at fret 7. The root falls on the G string at fret 5.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | G♯, A, A♯, B |
| 5 (A) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | C♯, D, D♯, E |
| 4 (D) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | F♯, G, G♯, A |
| 3 (G) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | B, C, C♯, D |
| 2 (B) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | D♯, E, F, F♯ |
| 1 (e) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | G♯, A, A♯, B |
Box 4 · frets 6–9
C chromatic in box 4 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 24 notes across 6 strings, from A♯ on the low E string at fret 6 up to C♯ on the high e string at fret 9. The root falls on the low E string at fret 8 and the high e string at fret 8.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 6, 7, 8, 9 | A♯, B, C, C♯ |
| 5 (A) | 6, 7, 8, 9 | D♯, E, F, F♯ |
| 4 (D) | 6, 7, 8, 9 | G♯, A, A♯, B |
| 3 (G) | 6, 7, 8, 9 | C♯, D, D♯, E |
| 2 (B) | 6, 7, 8, 9 | F, F♯, G, G♯ |
| 1 (e) | 6, 7, 8, 9 | A♯, B, C, C♯ |
Box 5 · frets 8–11
C chromatic in box 5 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 24 notes across 6 strings, from C on the low E string at fret 8 up to D♯ on the high e string at fret 11. The root falls on the low E string at fret 8, the D string at fret 10 and the high e string at fret 8.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 8, 9, 10, 11 | C, C♯, D, D♯ |
| 5 (A) | 8, 9, 10, 11 | F, F♯, G, G♯ |
| 4 (D) | 8, 9, 10, 11 | A♯, B, C, C♯ |
| 3 (G) | 8, 9, 10, 11 | D♯, E, F, F♯ |
| 2 (B) | 8, 9, 10, 11 | G, G♯, A, A♯ |
| 1 (e) | 8, 9, 10, 11 | C, C♯, D, D♯ |
Box 6 · frets 10–13
C chromatic in box 6 runs from fret 10 to fret 13, 24 notes across 6 strings, from D on the low E string at fret 10 up to F on the high e string at fret 13. The root falls on the D string at fret 10 and the B string at fret 13.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 10, 11, 12, 13 | D, D♯, E, F |
| 5 (A) | 10, 11, 12, 13 | G, G♯, A, A♯ |
| 4 (D) | 10, 11, 12, 13 | C, C♯, D, D♯ |
| 3 (G) | 10, 11, 12, 13 | F, F♯, G, G♯ |
| 2 (B) | 10, 11, 12, 13 | A, A♯, B, C |
| 1 (e) | 10, 11, 12, 13 | D, D♯, E, F |
Why it sounds like that
Build C chromatic from C bebop dominant by adding the four semitones that the bebop scale omits. The result is twelve consecutive half steps, intervals 0–11, with no whole-tone gaps. Hear the contrast with C bebop dominant.
When to use it
Play C chromatic over C major or C minor progressions when you want stepwise motion. It works for jazz lines over C major or C minor. Blues and bebop players use it to connect chord tones.
Which position to practise
Learn Box 1 first: the root is on string 5, fret 3, covering frets 0–3. It keeps the hand low and prepares for Box 2 by shifting up three frets.
Common questions
Which notes are in C chromatic?
C chromatic contains C, C♯, D, D♯, E, F, F♯, G, G♯, A, A♯, B. It is every semitone from C to the next C. There are twelve notes.
What chords fit C chromatic?
Any chord with root C works because the scale includes all pitches. Use C major or C minor and add chromatic passing tones. The scale does not change the chord quality.
How is C chromatic different from C bebop dominant?
C bebop dominant has eight notes; C 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.