chro·mat·ic / krōˈmatik/ • adj. 1. Mus. relating to or using notes not belonging to the diatonic scale of the key in which a passage is written. ∎  (of a scale) ascending or descending by semitones. ∎  (of an instrument) able to play all the notes of the chromatic scale.2. of, relating to, or produced by color.DERIVATIVES: chro·mat·i·cal·ly / -ik(ə)lē/ adv.chro·mat·i·cism / -əˌsizəm/ n.

chromatic Musical term used in melodic and harmonic analysis to refer to notes which do not occur in the scale of the key of a passage. Such notes are marked with accidentals; the chords in which they occur are termed chromatic. A chromatic scale is one containing all 12 notes of an octave rather than the seven notes of a diatonic scale.

chromatic (derived from Gr. chromos = colour). The chromatic was one of the 3 classifications of Gr. scales. In modern mus. it refers to notes not belonging to the diatonic scale. They are indicated by chromatics. The chromatic scale is 12 ascending or descending semitones (sharps ascending, flats descending). chromatic chords incl. one or more notes not in the diatonic scale of the prevailing key of the relevant passage.

chromatic (mus.) including notes not contained in the diatonic scale XVII; pert. to colour XIX. — F. chromatique or L. chrōmaticus — Gr. khrōmatikós, f. khrôma, khrōmat- colour, fig. modification; see -IC.