being or having or characterized by hue based on a scale consisting of 12 semitones; "a chromatic scale" able to refract light without spectral color separation; "chromatic lens
From the Greek "chromatikos" (colored) The chromatic scale divides an octave into twelve semitones (all the white and black notes on the keyboard from middle c to the c above it, for example), as opposed to the diatonic major and minor scales Chromatic chords employ notes foreign to the diatonic scale of the prevailing key in a musical passage The history of Western Music through the early 20th century reveals a progression of increasing chromaticism
The chromatic scale divides an octave into twelve half steps (all the white and black notes on the keyboard from middle C to the C above it) This is different than the major scale and minor scale, which only have 8 tones Listen to Chopin's Etude No 2 in A Minor to hear how chromatic scales are used in music
in simplest terms this can be defined as a scale consisting of half steps It also would naturally refer to any melodic or harmonic passages which contain primarily half steps Pärt's music is notable for its lack of chromaticism
Regarding all twelve traditional Western pitch classes, regardless of temperament or intonation; Regarding entire sets of alternative pitch class systems