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 places the root on string 4, fret 1 for a low start.
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 G on the high e string at fret 3. The root falls on the D 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, B♭, B, C |
| 4 (D) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | D, E♭, E, F |
| 3 (G) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | G, A♭, A, B♭ |
| 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
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 B string at fret 4.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | F♯, G, A♭, 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, B♭, B, C |
| 2 (B) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | C♯, D, E♭, E |
| 1 (e) | 2, 3, 4, 5 | F♯, G, A♭, A |
Box 3 · frets 4–7
E♭ chromatic in box 3 runs from fret 4 to fret 7, 24 notes across 6 strings, from A♭ 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 6 and the B string at fret 4.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | A♭, A, B♭, B |
| 5 (A) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | C♯, D, E♭, E |
| 4 (D) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | F♯, G, A♭, A |
| 3 (G) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | B, C, C♯, D |
| 2 (B) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | E♭, E, F, F♯ |
| 1 (e) | 4, 5, 6, 7 | A♭, A, B♭, B |
Box 4 · frets 6–9
E♭ chromatic in box 4 runs from fret 6 to fret 9, 24 notes across 6 strings, from B♭ 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 6 and the G string at fret 8.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 6, 7, 8, 9 | B♭, B, C, C♯ |
| 5 (A) | 6, 7, 8, 9 | E♭, E, F, F♯ |
| 4 (D) | 6, 7, 8, 9 | A♭, A, B♭, B |
| 3 (G) | 6, 7, 8, 9 | C♯, D, E♭, E |
| 2 (B) | 6, 7, 8, 9 | F, F♯, G, A♭ |
| 1 (e) | 6, 7, 8, 9 | B♭, B, C, C♯ |
Box 5 · frets 8–11
E♭ 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 E♭ on the high e string at fret 11. The root falls on the low E string at fret 11, the G string at fret 8 and the high e string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 8, 9, 10, 11 | C, C♯, D, E♭ |
| 5 (A) | 8, 9, 10, 11 | F, F♯, G, A♭ |
| 4 (D) | 8, 9, 10, 11 | B♭, B, C, C♯ |
| 3 (G) | 8, 9, 10, 11 | E♭, E, F, F♯ |
| 2 (B) | 8, 9, 10, 11 | G, A♭, A, B♭ |
| 1 (e) | 8, 9, 10, 11 | C, C♯, D, E♭ |
Box 6 · frets 11–14
E♭ chromatic in box 6 runs from fret 11 to fret 14, 24 notes across 6 strings, from E♭ on the low E string at fret 11 up to F♯ on the high e string at fret 14. The root falls on the low E string at fret 11, the D string at fret 13 and the high e string at fret 11.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 11, 12, 13, 14 | E♭, E, F, F♯ |
| 5 (A) | 11, 12, 13, 14 | A♭, A, B♭, B |
| 4 (D) | 11, 12, 13, 14 | C♯, D, E♭, E |
| 3 (G) | 11, 12, 13, 14 | F♯, G, A♭, A |
| 2 (B) | 11, 12, 13, 14 | B♭, B, C, C♯ |
| 1 (e) | 11, 12, 13, 14 | E♭, E, F, F♯ |
Why it sounds like that
Derive E♭ chromatic from E♭ 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 E♭ bebop dominant.
When to use it
Use E♭ chromatic over E♭ major or E♭ minor when you need chromatic passing tones. It suits jazz lines over E♭ major or E♭ minor. Fusion and bebop styles often employ this scale.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first: the root is on string 4, fret 1, covering frets 0–3. It keeps the hand low and sets up 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. It is also spelled D♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What chords fit E♭ chromatic?
Any chord with root E♭ works because the scale includes all pitches. Try E♭ major or E♭ minor and use chromatic passing tones. The scale adds colour without changing 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.