In music, there often occur intermediate tones or chromatics to give greater variety and interest to the composition. Sometimes they are used purely as passing or ornamental tones; at other times they serve to take the music from one key or mode into another.

When a succession of chromatics or twelve half-tones are found within the octave the chromatic scale is formed. Songs and exercises containing passages built on this scale or portions of it provide valuable training to students of singing, for by taking the voice through a series of these intervals, purity of intonation and vocal control are developed. In singing rapid chromatic scales and passages, it is sometimes difficult to keep them smooth and at the same time maintain distinctness and accuracy of pitch of every note. Fluent execution is aided if you feel a definite accent in the exercises. It is well to sing them slowly at first, increasing the tempo as you gain skill.