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 places the root on string 5, fret 4 for a compact span.
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 D♯♯ on the low E string at fret 0 up to F♯♯ on the high e string at fret 3. The root falls on the B string at fret 2.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | D♯♯, E♯, F♯, F♯♯ |
| 5 (A) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | G♯♯, A♯, A♯♯, B♯ |
| 4 (D) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | C♯♯, D♯, D♯♯, E♯ |
| 3 (G) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | F♯♯, G♯, G♯♯, A♯ |
| 2 (B) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | A♯♯, B♯, C♯, C♯♯ |
| 1 (e) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | D♯♯, E♯, F♯, F♯♯ |
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 G♯♯ on the high e string at fret 5. The root falls on the A string at fret 4 and the B string at fret 2.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | F♯, F♯♯, G♯, G♯♯ |
| 5 (A) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | A♯♯, B♯, C♯, C♯♯ |
| 4 (D) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | D♯♯, E♯, F♯, F♯♯ |
| 3 (G) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | G♯♯, A♯, A♯♯, B♯ |
| 2 (B) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | C♯, C♯♯, D♯, D♯♯ |
| 1 (e) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | F♯, F♯♯, G♯, G♯♯ |
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 A♯♯ on the high e 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | G♯, G♯♯, A♯, A♯♯ |
| 5 (A) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | C♯, C♯♯, D♯, D♯♯ |
| 4 (D) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | F♯, F♯♯, G♯, G♯♯ |
| 3 (G) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | A♯♯, B♯, C♯, C♯♯ |
| 2 (B) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | D♯, D♯♯, E♯, F♯ |
| 1 (e) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | G♯, G♯♯, A♯, A♯♯ |
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 9, the G string at fret 6 and the high e string at fret 9.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 6, 7, 8, 9 | A♯, A♯♯, B♯, C♯ |
| 5 (A) | 6, 7, 8, 9 | D♯, D♯♯, E♯, F♯ |
| 4 (D) | 6, 7, 8, 9 | G♯, G♯♯, A♯, A♯♯ |
| 3 (G) | 6, 7, 8, 9 | C♯, C♯♯, D♯, D♯♯ |
| 2 (B) | 6, 7, 8, 9 | E♯, F♯, F♯♯, G♯ |
| 1 (e) | 6, 7, 8, 9 | A♯, A♯♯, B♯, C♯ |
Box 5 · frets 9–12
C♯ 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 D♯♯ on the high e string at fret 12. The root falls on the low E string at fret 9, the D string at fret 11 and the high e string at fret 9.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 9, 10, 11, 12 | C♯, C♯♯, D♯, D♯♯ |
| 5 (A) | 9, 10, 11, 12 | F♯, F♯♯, G♯, G♯♯ |
| 4 (D) | 9, 10, 11, 12 | A♯♯, B♯, C♯, C♯♯ |
| 3 (G) | 9, 10, 11, 12 | D♯♯, E♯, F♯, F♯♯ |
| 2 (B) | 9, 10, 11, 12 | G♯, G♯♯, A♯, A♯♯ |
| 1 (e) | 9, 10, 11, 12 | C♯, C♯♯, D♯, D♯♯ |
Box 6 · frets 11–14
C♯ 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 D string at fret 11 and the B string at fret 14.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 11, 12, 13, 14 | D♯, D♯♯, E♯, F♯ |
| 5 (A) | 11, 12, 13, 14 | G♯, G♯♯, A♯, A♯♯ |
| 4 (D) | 11, 12, 13, 14 | C♯, C♯♯, D♯, D♯♯ |
| 3 (G) | 11, 12, 13, 14 | F♯, F♯♯, G♯, G♯♯ |
| 2 (B) | 11, 12, 13, 14 | A♯, A♯♯, B♯, C♯ |
| 1 (e) | 11, 12, 13, 14 | D♯, D♯♯, E♯, F♯ |
Why it sounds like that
Derive C♯ chromatic from C♯ bebop dominant by inserting the four semitones that the bebop scale omits. That yields twelve consecutive half steps, intervals 0–11, with no whole-tone gaps. Hear the contrast with C♯ bebop dominant.
When to use it
Use C♯ chromatic over C♯ major or C♯ minor when you need chromatic passing tones. It suits jazz lines over C♯ major or C♯ minor. Fusion and bebop styles often employ this scale.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first: the root is on string 5, fret 4, covering frets 0–3. It keeps the hand compact and sets up 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. It is also spelled D♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What chords fit C♯ chromatic?
Any chord with root C♯ works because the scale includes all pitches. Try C♯ major or C♯ minor and use chromatic passing tones. The scale adds colour without changing 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.