The Forgotten Scale

The Chromatic scale is the parent of all the other scales as we know them, at least in this part of the hemisphere's modern music.  We have spent too much time trying to dissect this scale and make it conform to the way our ears hear music.  However, there are many places in the world where the chromatic scale is the short version and not the parent 12 tone scale as we know it in the Western hemisphere.

Jazz? Rock? Blues? Pop? Yes! They all use forms of the chromatic scale one way or another!  If the formula is applied correctly, then you may have a major or some form of minor tonality.  However, we must not forget that the whole Chromatic scale is there for us to use!  How do I know?  Just look at your guitar strings.  All of the frets are important and play a role.  From its open position to its 12th fret, each of the strings run a chromatic scale if played fret after fret.  Same applies to the piano if we play all the white keys as well as the black key from one root note to another root note (i.e. A to A).

Therefore, let us not forget that it will never ever be a sin to make use of the Chromatic scale.  It's begging to be used, and it will add much color to any composition/improvisation!