Explore scales · Guitar
F chromatic scale on guitar
F chromatic uses F, F♯, G, G♯, A, B♭, B, C, C♯, D, D♯, E. Box 1 places the root on string 6, fret 1 for the lowest position.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♯1, 2, ♯2, 3, 4, ♯4, 5, ♯5, 6, ♯6, 7
How do you play the F chromatic scale on guitar?
F chromatic in box 1 runs from fret 1 to fret 4, 24 notes across 6 strings, from F on the low E string at fret 1 up to G♯ on the high e string at fret 4. The root falls on the low E string at fret 1, the D string at fret 3 and the high e string at fret 1.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 1, 2, 3, 4 | F, F♯, G, G♯ |
| 5 (A) | 1, 2, 3, 4 | B♭, B, C, C♯ |
| 4 (D) | 1, 2, 3, 4 | D♯, E, F, F♯ |
| 3 (G) | 1, 2, 3, 4 | G♯, A, B♭, B |
| 2 (B) | 1, 2, 3, 4 | C, C♯, D, D♯ |
| 1 (e) | 1, 2, 3, 4 | F, F♯, G, G♯ |
Box 2 · frets 3–6
F chromatic in box 2 runs from fret 3 to fret 6, 24 notes across 6 strings, from G on the low E string at fret 3 up to B♭ on the high e string at fret 6. The root falls on the D string at fret 3 and the B string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 3, 4, 5, 6 | G, G♯, A, B♭ |
| 5 (A) | 3, 4, 5, 6 | C, C♯, D, D♯ |
| 4 (D) | 3, 4, 5, 6 | F, F♯, G, G♯ |
| 3 (G) | 3, 4, 5, 6 | B♭, B, C, C♯ |
| 2 (B) | 3, 4, 5, 6 | D, D♯, E, F |
| 1 (e) | 3, 4, 5, 6 | G, G♯, A, B♭ |
Box 3 · frets 5–8
F 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 C on the high e string at fret 8. The root falls on the A string at fret 8 and the B string at fret 6.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 5, 6, 7, 8 | A, B♭, B, C |
| 5 (A) | 5, 6, 7, 8 | D, D♯, E, F |
| 4 (D) | 5, 6, 7, 8 | G, G♯, A, B♭ |
| 3 (G) | 5, 6, 7, 8 | C, C♯, D, D♯ |
| 2 (B) | 5, 6, 7, 8 | E, F, F♯, G |
| 1 (e) | 5, 6, 7, 8 | A, B♭, B, C |
Box 4 · frets 7–10
F 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 A string at fret 8 and the G string at fret 10.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 7, 8, 9, 10 | B, C, C♯, D |
| 5 (A) | 7, 8, 9, 10 | E, F, F♯, G |
| 4 (D) | 7, 8, 9, 10 | A, B♭, B, C |
| 3 (G) | 7, 8, 9, 10 | D, D♯, E, F |
| 2 (B) | 7, 8, 9, 10 | F♯, G, G♯, A |
| 1 (e) | 7, 8, 9, 10 | B, C, C♯, D |
Box 5 · frets 9–12
F 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 G 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♯, G, G♯, A |
| 4 (D) | 9, 10, 11, 12 | B, C, C♯, D |
| 3 (G) | 9, 10, 11, 12 | E, F, F♯, G |
| 2 (B) | 9, 10, 11, 12 | G♯, A, B♭, B |
| 1 (e) | 9, 10, 11, 12 | C♯, D, D♯, E |
Box 6 · frets 11–14
F 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 low E string at fret 13 and the high e string at fret 13.
Every note in this box, string by string
| String | Frets | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 11, 12, 13, 14 | D♯, E, F, F♯ |
| 5 (A) | 11, 12, 13, 14 | G♯, A, B♭, B |
| 4 (D) | 11, 12, 13, 14 | C♯, D, D♯, E |
| 3 (G) | 11, 12, 13, 14 | F♯, G, G♯, A |
| 2 (B) | 11, 12, 13, 14 | B♭, B, C, C♯ |
| 1 (e) | 11, 12, 13, 14 | D♯, E, F, F♯ |
Why it sounds like that
Derive F chromatic from F 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 F bebop dominant.
When to use it
Use F chromatic over F major or F minor when you need chromatic passing tones. It suits jazz lines over F major or F minor. Fusion and bebop styles often employ this scale.
Which position to practise
Practise Box 1 first: the root is on string 6, fret 1, covering frets 1–4. It keeps the hand at the nut and sets up Box 2 by shifting up two frets.
Common questions
Which notes are in F chromatic?
F chromatic contains F, F♯, G, G♯, A, B♭, B, C, C♯, D, D♯, E. It is every semitone from F to the next F. There are twelve notes.
What chords fit F chromatic?
Any chord with root F works because the scale includes all pitches. Try F major or F minor and use chromatic passing tones. The scale adds colour without changing the chord quality.
How is F chromatic different from F bebop dominant?
F bebop dominant has eight notes; F 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.