C Chromatic (harmonic) descending Scale on the Piano - How to play, How to improvise, How to compose music with this scale
Notes: C, B, Bb, A, Ab, G, F#, F, E, Eb, D, and Db - Key: C - Category: Dodecatonic Scales
The C Chromatic (harmonic) descending uses twelve notes per octave. Because of this same reason it is a member of the so called Dodecatonic -scales that have Twelve-note (or Twelve-tone). On the piano keyboard, it is made up of five black keys: B, A, F#, E, and D and seven white keys: C, Bb, Ab, G, F, Eb, and Db. This combination makes this scale - as well as the C Prometheus, C Prometheus Liszt, and C Prometheus Neapolitan - as great choices for composing or improvising music.
If we take a look a the key signature of the C Chromatic (harmonic) descending Scale we can find it has four flats and one sharps. Therefore, on sheet music you will find five accidentals on the score. The notes of this scale are: C, B, Bb, A, Ab, G, F#, F, E, Eb, D, and Db.
How to play the C Chromatic (harmonic) descending scale?
- 1To play the C Chromatic (harmonic) descending on your piano, start on the Root note. Play C, the first note of the scale.
- 2Continue with rest of the notes that shape the scale, play B, Bb, A, Ab, G, F#, F, E, Eb, D, and Db.
- 3Return to the home of the C Chromatic (harmonic) descending scale. Play again C -the tonic of the scale- to mark its ending.
How to play the scale in descending fashion?
- 1Begin on the last note. Play the C, the last (and first) note of the scale.
- 2Go down. Play Db, D, Eb, E, F, F#, G, Ab, A, Bb, and B.
- 3Reach the home again. Establish tonality by playing the tonic of the C Chromatic (harmonic) descending scale: C.
- 4Tip. If you want to learn how to improvise or compose your own music using the C Chromatic (harmonic) descending scale or any other scale, check out our step-by-step online piano lessons, piano courses, and interactive piano apps and enjoy thousands of interactive multimedia piano animations. Discover 'Logic Behind Music' and learn how to play your favorite songs, play by ear, improvise, and even create your own music!
