The chromatic scale consists of 12 semitones in sequence order. The notes after the 13th are an octave higher (or lower).
The following table shows the notes in each chromatic scale (ascending). Among them, "1" is the first note, and the chromatic scale is named according to the first note, such as "Chromatic scale starting on C":
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| C | C# | D | D# | E | F | F# | G | G# | A | A# | B |
| C# | D | D# | E | F | F# | G | G# | A | A# | B | C |
| D | D# | E | F | F# | G | G# | A | A# | B | C | C# |
| D# | E | F | F# | G | G# | A | A# | B | C | C# | D |
| E | F | F# | G | G# | A | A# | B | C | C# | D | D# |
| F | F# | G | G# | A | A# | B | C | C# | D | D# | E |
| F# | G | G# | A | A# | B | C | C# | D | D# | E | F |
| G | G# | A | A# | B | C | C# | D | D# | E | F | F# |
| G# | A | A# | B | C | C# | D | D# | E | F | F# | G |
| A | A# | B | C | C# | D | D# | E | F | F# | G | G# |
| A# | B | C | C# | D | D# | E | F | F# | G | G# | A |
The 7th note of the harmonic minor scale is raised by a semitone, creating an augmented 2nd between the 6th and 7th notes.
The harmonic minor scale is sung as "La - Ti - Do - Re - Mi - Fa - Si(#) - La", and the order of intervals is "W - H - W - W - H - A - H".
"Key" refers to the main tonality of a piece of music, and it serves as the foundation for both the melody and harmony. It can be broadly divided into two categories - major key and minor key. Both create different effects on the atmosphere and emotions conveyed.
Generally, major key is usually associated with liveliness and cheerfulness, and often used to express positive emotions. On the other hand, minor key is usually associated with sadness and darkness, and often used to convey sorrowful emotions.
The major scale consists of 7 different notes in order with a half-step (H) between the 3rd-and-4th and the 7th-and-8th notes, and a whole-step (W) between the other notes. The notes after the 8th is an octave higher (or lower).
The major scale is sung as "Do - Re - Mi - Fa - So - La - Ti - Do", and the order of intervals is "W - W - H - W - W - W - H".
Notes in each major scale (ascending):
| Do | Re | Mi | Fa | So | La | Ti | Do | |
| C Major | C | D | E | F | G | A | B | C |
| C# Major | C# | D# | E# | F# | G# | A# | B# | C# |
| Db Major | Db | Eb | F | Gb | Ab | Bb | C | Db |
| D Major | D | E | F# | G | A | B | C# | D |
| Eb Major | Eb | F | G | Ab | Bb | C | D | Eb |
| E Major | E | F# | G# | A | B | C# | D# | E |
| F Major | F | G | A | Bb | C | D | E | F |
| F# Major | F# | G# | A# | B | C# | D# | E# | F# |
| Gb Major | Gb | Ab | Bb | Cb | Db | Eb | F | Gb |
| G Major | G | A | B | C | D | E | F# | G |
| Ab Major | Ab | Bb | C | Db | Eb | F | G | Ab |
| A Major | A | B | C# | D | E | F# | G# | A |
| Bb Major | Bb | C | D | Eb | F | G | A | Bb |
| B Major | B | C# | D# | E | F# | G# | A# | B |
The notes between ascending and descending of melodic minor scale are different.
For ascending, the 6th and 7th notes are rasied by a semitone; For descending, the 6th and 7th notes are lowered by a semitone.
The melodic minor scale (ascending) is sung as "La - Ti - Do - Re - Mi - Fi(#) - Si(#) - La", and the order of intervals is "W - H - W - W - W - W - H".
The melodic minor scale (descending) is sung as "La - So - Fa - Mi - Re - Do - Ti - La", and the order of intervals is "W - W - H - W - W - H - W".
The 7th note of the harmonic minor scale is raised by a semitone, creating an augmented 2nd between the 6th and 7th notes.
The harmonic minor scale is sung as "La - Ti - Do - Re - Mi - Fa - Si(#) - La", and the order of intervals is "W - H - W - W - H - A - H".
The notes between ascending and descending of melodic minor scale are different.
For ascending, the 6th and 7th notes are rasied by a semitone; For descending, the 6th and 7th notes are lowered by a semitone.
The melodic minor scale (ascending) is sung as "La - Ti - Do - Re - Mi - Fi(#) - Si(#) - La", and the order of intervals is "W - H - W - W - W - W - H".
The melodic minor scale (descending) is sung as "La - So - Fa - Mi - Re - Do - Ti - La", and the order of intervals is "W - W - H - W - W - H - W".
Natural minor scale have no additional raised, and it is also known as the Aeolian mode.
The natural minor scale is sung as "La - Ti - Do - Re - Mi - Fa - So - La", and the order of intervals is "W - H - W - W - H - W - W".
Natural minor scale have no additional raised, and it is also known as the Aeolian mode.
The natural minor scale is sung as "La - Ti - Do - Re - Mi - Fa - So - La", and the order of intervals is "W - H - W - W - H - W - W".
The pentatonic scale is similar to the "major scale", but omits the 4th and 7th tones, forming "Do - Re - Mi - So - La".
| Do | Re | Mi | So | La | |
| C Pentatonic | C | D | E | G | A |
| C# Pentatonic | C# | D# | E# | G# | A# |
| Db Pentatonic | Db | Eb | F | Ab | Bb |
| D Pentatonic | D | E | F# | A | B |
| Eb Pentatonic | Eb | F | G | Bb | C |
| E Pentatonic | E | F# | G# | B | C# |
| F Pentatonic | F | G | A | C | D |
| F# Pentatonic | F# | G# | A# | C# | D# |
| Gb Pentatonic | Gb | Ab | Bb | Db | Eb |
| G Pentatonic | G | A | B | D | E |
| Ab Pentatonic | Ab | Bb | C | Eb | F |
| A Pentatonic | A | B | C# | E | F# |
| Bb Pentatonic | Bb | C | D | F | G |
| B Pentatonic | B | C# | D# | F# | G# |
The whole tone scale is a type of hexatonic scale, meaning it uses only six notes within an octave. The interval between each tone is a whole-tone (without semitones). It was widely used in French impressionism.