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when notating a chromatic scale, use sharps for ascending pitches and flats for descending pitches.

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Q: How do you decide which accidentals to use in a chromatic scale?
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What are the different chromatics to natural singing?

Based on an octave of 12 semitones, as opposed to a seven-note DIATONIC scale. A chromatic scale consists of an ascending or descending line of semitones. An instrument is said to be chromatic if throughout all or most of its compass it can produce all the semitones. Chromatic, a word ultimately derived from the Greek noun which means "complexion" or "color", and then from the Greek adjective χρωματικός (khrōmatikós; "colored"), may refer to: In music: Chromatic scale, the western-tempered twelve-tone scale. Chromatic chord, chords built from tones chromatically altered from the native scale of the musical composition. Chromaticism, the use of chromatic scales, chords, and modulations. Total chromatic, the use of all twelve pitches of the chromatic scale in tonal music. Chromatic genus, a genus of divisions of the tetrachord characterized by an upper interval of a minor third.Diatonic and chromatic, as a property of several structures, genres, and other features in music, often contrasted with diatonic. http://www.answers.com/chromatic?cat=health


What is a chromatic scale in musical terms?

A chromatic scale is a scale where each note of it is separated by a semiton - that is - it includes all the notes that exist. C1, C1#, D1, D1#, E1, F1, F1# ... B1, C2, C2#, D2... etc For instance, in a keyboard that would mean you'd play all the white and black keys sucessively.


How many notes are in an octave chromatic scale?

In the simplest terms, every chromatic scale contains every note. The chromatic scale is actually not a tonal scale, so you wouldn't really refer to it as the 'c' chromatic scale as you would a major, minor, or modal scale. The chromatic scale is made up of half-steps in succession either ascending or descending order. If you were to start the chromatic scale on 'c' then the notes would be: c-c#-d-d#-e-f-f#-g-g#-a-a#-b at which point the scale would just repeat itself in the next octave. The easiest way to understand it is to sit at a piano, find 'c' (or any other note) and play every note (black and white) until you get to the next 'c' (or the note that you started with). There's your chromatic scale! Some theorists will argue that the chromatic scale is a tonal scale. Their arguments can be justified very easily. However, if you are just beginning to experiment with the chromatic scale, I recommend thinking of it in the way described above for the time being. Once you have a better understanding of the fundamentals, read more about it! Hope that helps! It's a great scale to use in all sorts of music. www.myspace.com/thekilnsband


How do you use a chromatic tuner to tune a guitar?

A chromatic tuner is one which can tune any note (C,C#,D,D# etc.). This makes it useful if you want to tune guitar strings to a different pitch or just simply want to tune a particular note on an instrument.


Why are there accidentals in music?

Sometimes for melodic purposes, a composer will want to use a note that is not in the key signature. Accidentals are used to alert the performer that the note has been altered.

Related questions

What are the different chromatics to natural singing?

Based on an octave of 12 semitones, as opposed to a seven-note DIATONIC scale. A chromatic scale consists of an ascending or descending line of semitones. An instrument is said to be chromatic if throughout all or most of its compass it can produce all the semitones. Chromatic, a word ultimately derived from the Greek noun which means "complexion" or "color", and then from the Greek adjective χρωματικός (khrōmatikós; "colored"), may refer to: In music: Chromatic scale, the western-tempered twelve-tone scale. Chromatic chord, chords built from tones chromatically altered from the native scale of the musical composition. Chromaticism, the use of chromatic scales, chords, and modulations. Total chromatic, the use of all twelve pitches of the chromatic scale in tonal music. Chromatic genus, a genus of divisions of the tetrachord characterized by an upper interval of a minor third.Diatonic and chromatic, as a property of several structures, genres, and other features in music, often contrasted with diatonic. http://www.answers.com/chromatic?cat=health


What happens to the notes in a harmonic minor scale?

The harmonic minor scale, in relation to the natural minor scale, has a raised 7th scale degree. This happens with the use of accidentals rather than the key signature.


Define chromatic and diatonic harmony?

Chromatic Harmony is the use of chords containing tones not found in the prevailing major or minor scale but included in the chromatic scale (which has twelve tones): often found in Romantic Music. Diatonic harmony is created exclusively from whatever melodic resource we choose to create within.


What do the Notes of the c major scale mean?

It means they belong to that scale, and when the key of a song is "C", these are the notes to use. If their are any accidentals next to a note though, remember to raise or lower the note accordingly.


What is a chromatic scale in musical terms?

A chromatic scale is a scale where each note of it is separated by a semiton - that is - it includes all the notes that exist. C1, C1#, D1, D1#, E1, F1, F1# ... B1, C2, C2#, D2... etc For instance, in a keyboard that would mean you'd play all the white and black keys sucessively.


What scale is made up of all the black and white notes on a keyboard?

The scale you are looking for is the chromatic scale. This scale contains every note thus all black and all white keys on the keyboard The use of the chromatic scale is pretty limited and mostly just used in jazz music. In jazz music you would just use it as a "passing note" which means that the note isn't in the scale but since its played quickly doesnt sound much dissonant. Sometimes this dissonant sound of a passing note is wanted in order to make the piece more interesting.


How many notes are in an octave chromatic scale?

In the simplest terms, every chromatic scale contains every note. The chromatic scale is actually not a tonal scale, so you wouldn't really refer to it as the 'c' chromatic scale as you would a major, minor, or modal scale. The chromatic scale is made up of half-steps in succession either ascending or descending order. If you were to start the chromatic scale on 'c' then the notes would be: c-c#-d-d#-e-f-f#-g-g#-a-a#-b at which point the scale would just repeat itself in the next octave. The easiest way to understand it is to sit at a piano, find 'c' (or any other note) and play every note (black and white) until you get to the next 'c' (or the note that you started with). There's your chromatic scale! Some theorists will argue that the chromatic scale is a tonal scale. Their arguments can be justified very easily. However, if you are just beginning to experiment with the chromatic scale, I recommend thinking of it in the way described above for the time being. Once you have a better understanding of the fundamentals, read more about it! Hope that helps! It's a great scale to use in all sorts of music. www.myspace.com/thekilnsband


How do you use a chromatic tuner to tune a guitar?

A chromatic tuner is one which can tune any note (C,C#,D,D# etc.). This makes it useful if you want to tune guitar strings to a different pitch or just simply want to tune a particular note on an instrument.


How do you analyis a song?

You use the STAR technique.Signature= Look to see the sharps in your key signature and figure out what scale it is in.TAccidentals= You look to find any accidentals in your new song.Rhythm= You identify the rhythm count in the song.


Why are there accidentals in music?

Sometimes for melodic purposes, a composer will want to use a note that is not in the key signature. Accidentals are used to alert the performer that the note has been altered.


Did Sara Carter use a chromatic or diatonic autoharp?

Chromatic. Diatonic autoharps hadn't been invented yet.


How do you write an enharmonically equivalent scale to eg B Major its equivalent is C flat would you start the enharmonic scale on B or on C flat?

I would definitely try to write the scale in B. If you were to write it in C flat then you would end up having to use accidentals that are not very common called double flats.