A Chromatic Scale is a musical scale that contains all twelve notes of the octave, ascending or descending in semitone intervals.

It is the most "complete" scale possible in Western music. Think of a piano: the chromatic scale is what you play when you press each key — white and black — in sequence, without skipping any.

It does not have a "tonic" or tonal center like major and minor scales. Instead, it includes all the available sonic "building blocks," and its sound is characterized by a sense of continuous movement and tension. It is often used to create transitional passages, tension, or to add "color" to melodies and harmonies.