Explore scales · Guitar
E chromatic scale on guitar
E chromatic uses E, E♯, F♯, F♯♯, G♯, A, A♯, B, B♯, C♯, C♯♯, D♯. Box 1 starts on string 4, fret 2 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 E chromatic scale on guitar?
E 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 low E string at fret 0, the D string at fret 2 and the high e string at fret 0.
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 | C♯♯, D♯, E, E♯ |
| 3 (G) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | F♯♯, G♯, A, A♯ |
| 2 (B) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | B, B♯, C♯, C♯♯ |
| 1 (e) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | E, E♯, F♯, F♯♯ |
Box 2 · frets 2–5
E 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 D string at fret 2 and the B 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♯, C♯♯ |
| 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♯, C♯♯, D♯, E |
| 1 (e) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | F♯, F♯♯, G♯, A |
Box 3 · frets 4–7
E 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 A string at fret 7 and the B 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♯, C♯♯, D♯, E |
| 4 (D) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | F♯, F♯♯, G♯, A |
| 3 (G) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | B, B♯, C♯, C♯♯ |
| 2 (B) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | D♯, E, E♯, F♯ |
| 1 (e) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | G♯, A, A♯, B |
Box 4 · frets 6–9
E 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 A string at fret 7 and the G string at fret 9.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 6, 7, 8, 9 | A♯, B, B♯, C♯ |
| 5 (A) | 6, 7, 8, 9 | D♯, E, E♯, F♯ |
| 4 (D) | 6, 7, 8, 9 | G♯, A, A♯, B |
| 3 (G) | 6, 7, 8, 9 | C♯, C♯♯, D♯, E |
| 2 (B) | 6, 7, 8, 9 | E♯, F♯, F♯♯, G♯ |
| 1 (e) | 6, 7, 8, 9 | A♯, B, B♯, C♯ |
Box 5 · frets 8–11
E chromatic in box 5 runs from fret 8 to fret 11, 24 notes across 6 strings, from B♯ on the low E string at fret 8 up to D♯ on the high e string at fret 11. The root falls on the G string at fret 9.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 8, 9, 10, 11 | B♯, C♯, C♯♯, D♯ |
| 5 (A) | 8, 9, 10, 11 | E♯, F♯, F♯♯, G♯ |
| 4 (D) | 8, 9, 10, 11 | A♯, B, B♯, C♯ |
| 3 (G) | 8, 9, 10, 11 | D♯, E, E♯, F♯ |
| 2 (B) | 8, 9, 10, 11 | F♯♯, G♯, A, A♯ |
| 1 (e) | 8, 9, 10, 11 | B♯, C♯, C♯♯, D♯ |
Box 6 · frets 10–13
E chromatic in box 6 runs from fret 10 to fret 13, 24 notes across 6 strings, from C♯♯ on the low E string at fret 10 up to E♯ on the high e string at fret 13. The root falls on the low E string at fret 12 and the high e string at fret 12.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 10, 11, 12, 13 | C♯♯, D♯, E, E♯ |
| 5 (A) | 10, 11, 12, 13 | F♯♯, G♯, A, A♯ |
| 4 (D) | 10, 11, 12, 13 | B♯, C♯, C♯♯, D♯ |
| 3 (G) | 10, 11, 12, 13 | E♯, F♯, F♯♯, G♯ |
| 2 (B) | 10, 11, 12, 13 | A, A♯, B, B♯ |
| 1 (e) | 10, 11, 12, 13 | C♯♯, D♯, E, E♯ |
Why it sounds like that
Build E chromatic from E 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 E bebop dominant.
When to use it
Play E chromatic over E major or E minor progressions when you want stepwise motion. It works for jazz lines over E major or E minor. Blues and bebop players use it to connect chord tones.
Which position to practise
Learn Box 1 first: the root is on string 4, fret 2, 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 E chromatic?
E chromatic contains E, E♯, F♯, F♯♯, G♯, A, A♯, B, B♯, C♯, C♯♯, D♯. It is every semitone from E to the next E. There are twelve notes.
What chords fit E chromatic?
Any chord with root E works because the scale includes all pitches. Use E major or E minor and add chromatic passing tones. The scale does not change the chord quality.
How is E chromatic different from E bebop dominant?
E bebop dominant has eight notes; E 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.