A Chromatic Scale
Notes in the A Chromatic Scale
| Degree | Name | Note | Frequency (A=440) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | A | 440.000 Hz |
| ♭2 | Minor 2nd | A# | 466.164 Hz |
| 2 | Major 2nd | B | 493.883 Hz |
| ♭3 | Minor 3rd | C | 261.626 Hz |
| 3 | Major 3rd | C# | 277.183 Hz |
| 4 | Perfect 4th | D | 293.665 Hz |
| ♯4 | Tritone | D# | 311.127 Hz |
| 5 | Perfect 5th | E | 329.628 Hz |
| ♭6 | Minor 6th | F | 349.228 Hz |
| 6 | Major 6th | F# | 369.994 Hz |
| ♭7 | Minor 7th | G | 391.995 Hz |
| 7 | Major 7th | G# | 415.305 Hz |
Interval Pattern
| Step | Interval | Semitones | From Note | To Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Half Step (H) | 1 | A | A# |
| 2 | Half Step (H) | 1 | A# | B |
| 3 | Half Step (H) | 1 | B | C |
| 4 | Half Step (H) | 1 | C | C# |
| 5 | Half Step (H) | 1 | C# | D |
| 6 | Half Step (H) | 1 | D | D# |
| 7 | Half Step (H) | 1 | D# | E |
| 8 | Half Step (H) | 1 | E | F |
| 9 | Half Step (H) | 1 | F | F# |
| 10 | Half Step (H) | 1 | F# | G |
| 11 | Half Step (H) | 1 | G | G# |
| 12 | Half Step (H) | 1 | G# | A |
Harmony
The chromatic scale contains all 12 pitch classes and has no diatonic harmony — all chromatic passages use all pitches equally. See individual chord types for specific harmonic structures.
Key Signature
3 ♯ — The A key signature uses F#, C#, G#.
A Chromatic Scale in Practice
The A Chromatic Scale uses the key signature of 3 sharps (F#, C#, G#). A major has three sharps (F#, C#, G#) and a bright, clear sound. It is extremely common in popular music and rock, particularly on guitar, and is easily sung by most voices. On guitar, A positions offer open-string resonance for fingering positions for this scale.
The chromatic scale includes all 12 pitches within an octave, each a half step apart. It has no tonal center and is used as a reference for all other scales and as a compositional device.
Tuning Frequencies Across Temperaments
Frequencies shown at A=440 Hz. View full temperament data for any note.
| Note | Equal Temp. | Pythagorean | Just Intonation |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 440.000 Hz | 440.000 Hz | 436.043 Hz |
| A# | 466.164 Hz | 463.538 Hz | 470.926 Hz |
| B | 493.883 Hz | 495.000 Hz | 490.548 Hz |
| C | 261.626 Hz | 260.740 Hz | 261.626 Hz |
| C# | 277.183 Hz | 278.437 Hz | 279.067 Hz |
| D | 293.665 Hz | 293.332 Hz | 294.329 Hz |
| D# | 311.127 Hz | 309.026 Hz | 313.951 Hz |
| E | 329.628 Hz | 330.001 Hz | 327.032 Hz |
| F | 349.228 Hz | 347.654 Hz | 348.834 Hz |
| F# | 369.994 Hz | 371.251 Hz | 367.911 Hz |
| G | 391.995 Hz | 391.111 Hz | 392.438 Hz |
| G# | 415.305 Hz | 417.657 Hz | 418.601 Hz |
Related Scales
Guitar: A Chromatic Scale Positions
The A key offers 3 sharps (F#, C#, G#) on guitar. Sharp-side keys like A are idiomatic guitar keys because open strings (E, A, D, G, B, E) align with the scale's natural resonance points.