Chromatic tones

[Mattt1]

i don't quite get Chromatic tones? simple explanation.

what does "bass line in a major tonality using a chromatic tone" mean?

 

[Groove Master]

i don't quite get Chromatic tones? simple explanation.

what does "bass line in a major tonality using a chromatic tone" mean?

Let's start with the C major scale: C-D-E-F-G-A-B. These are also all the white keys on a piano.

You can connect all these scale notes with a chromatic note between them like this: c-C#-d d-D#-e f-F#-g g-G#-a a-A#-b.

These chromatic notes are all black keys. This C major scale example is perfect to demonstrate that concept on a piano. Figure it out on the bass now.

Hope this helps,

 

[MalcolmAmos]

Major Scale Box. 
Code:
G|---D---|-------|---E---|---F---| 1st string
D|---A---|-------|---B---|---C---|
A|---E---|---F---|-------|---G---|
E|-------|---C---|-------|---D---|4th string

What is a chromatic note? Answer; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromatic_scale
The chromatic note between C and D is _______.
The chromatic note between F and G is _______.

 

[BassChuck]

A chromatice scale uses all the notes (or any of the notes) within an octave. When you are working with a key, you narrow your note choices to certain notes that make up the key. Key of C = C,D,E, F, G, A, B. The chords that are used will use those notes. IF use notes outside of those used by the key, then it can be said you are moving chromatically. Puting a C# between a Cmajor chord and a Dminor chord would be a chromatic bassline in the key of C.

 

[Bainbridge]

There are actually two terms you need to worry about: chromatic and diatonic.

Diatonic means "within the key". So, the notes that are diatonic to C major are C D E F G A B. The notes that are diatonic to E♭ major are E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C D. You dig?

Chromatic means "not within the key". So, in the key of C major, any note that's not C D E F G A B is chromatic. Similarly, in the key of E♭ major, any note that's not E♭ F G A♭ B♭ C D is chromatic.


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There are two types of chromaticism: functional and non-functional. You'll also hear essential and non-essential.

Functional/essential chromaticism: the chromaticism is part of a chord, i.e. a chord tone. So, an A7 chord in the key of C major would be chromatic because C# (the 3rd of A7) is chromatic to C major.

Non-functional/non-essential chromaticism: the chromaticism is not part of a chord, i.e. a non-chord tone. That same C# can be used as a chromatic passing tone between C and D. In this case, you might have something like a IV V progression (let's keep doing this in C major), where C is a chord tone on the IV chord (F), then you hear C# as a non-chord tone, and the V chord hits (G), and D is a chord tone. You could also have a chromatic neighbor tone: say we're staying on that V, and you have a figure going D C# D. C# is a chromatic neighbor tone in that instance. Of course, this is also possible with other non-chord tones.

 

[Jeff Bonny]

i don't quite get Chromatic tones? simple explanation.

what does "bass line in a major tonality using a chromatic tone" mean?

A chromatic scale uses all 12 notes consecutively.

Chromatic "tones" are notes adjacent to each other that may or may not be within the diatonic (major) tonality.

A bassline in a major tonality is is one that is based on a major scale. Using a chromatic tone in this case would probably refer to a note that is outside that major scale or tonality.

Practice chromatic scales and get that sound firmly in your head. If you don't do that all the theoretical explanations won't make much sense.