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→Using Chromatics
'''Chromatics''' or '''accidentals''' are notes that are not diatonic to the current key. Above we covered altering our key or using other keys to fit the harmony of the current chord. Here we will discuss using chromatics not dictated by the current chord, but simply as an additional means of expression.
The most simple use of chromatics is to borrow from the chromatic scale. The chromatic scale is the ultimate symmetric scale, with any possible note being the tonic with the same relationship to all other notes in the scale. This means its tonicity is extremely weak, which can make it sound aimless. Its constant use of half-step movements can sound like there's a lot of action but at the same time the pitch is moving slowly. And it can sound kind of comic. Its usage is mostly for small snippets rather than shifting completely to a chromatic scale. Because any note can be the tonic in the chromatic scale, its usage does not "move" the tonic note and cause the phrase to become disjointed with the harmony.
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Other popular scales to borrow from are the whole tone and octatonic scales. These scales are also highly symmetric and have weak tonicity. The whole tone scale can have its tonic as any note in the scale, with a note on every note in the chromatic scale. So there's really only two variations, and if you pick the one that includes the harmony's tonic note, there is no disruption to the overall tonality. Same with either of the octatonic scales - these use 8/12 notes in the chromatic scale and can have any of its notes act as the tonic, so its more than likely you'll use a variation that does not affect tonality.
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