Kaksitoonasäveljärjestelmä

Kaksitoonasäveljärjestelmä, also known as the chromatic scale, is a musical scale consisting of twelve pitches. It is the most common tuning system in Western music and many other musical traditions worldwide. Each of the twelve notes is separated by a semitone, which is the smallest interval in Western music. When played in ascending or descending order, the chromatic scale encompasses all the available notes within an octave.

The twelve notes in the standard Western chromatic scale are typically named as follows: C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#, A, A#, B. Alternatively, using flats, they can be named: C, Db, D, Eb, E, F, Gb, G, Ab, A, Bb, B. The enharmonic equivalence means that some notes have different names but sound the same, such as C# and Db. The sequence repeats every octave, with the next C being one octave higher than the starting C.

The chromatic scale is fundamental to understanding musical harmony and melody. It provides the raw material for composing melodies and creating chords. While diatonic scales (like major and minor scales) use seven notes from the chromatic scale, the chromatic scale itself includes all possible notes, allowing for a wider range of expression and harmonic possibilities. Composers often utilize chromaticism, the use of notes outside the prevailing diatonic scale, to add color, tension, and emotional depth to their music. The twelve-tone technique, a method of composition developed in the 20th century, is also based on the principle of using all twelve notes of the chromatic scale in a specific ordered sequence.