Learning the Notes on the Fretboard Tuning Notes for the Strings E B G D A E
T A B
12th Fret = Midway Point of Guitar = Notes One Octave Higher than Open Strings Low E String
Note: E
E
A String
A
T A B
D String
A
0
D
D
0
12
G String
12
B String
G
G
0
12
High E String
B
B
0
12
E 0
E 12
0 12 * Octave = distance between two notes of the same pitch that occur higher or lower than each other.
Western Scale Is Divided into 12 Equal Parts = Called the “Chromatic Scale” Chromatic Scale on Low E String 1/2 step step 1/2 step
Note: E
T A B
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
F
F
G
G
A
A
B
C
C
D
D
E
7
8
9
10
11
12
G
G
A
5
6
7
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 * Each fret = 1/2 step apart; Chromatic scale built from 12 half steps.
Chromatic Scale on A String
Note: A
T A B
0
A
B
C
C
D
D
E
F
F
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
1
Chromatic Scale on D String
Note: D
D
E
F
F
G
G
A
A
B
C
C
D
T A B
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
0
Chromatic Scale on G String
Note: G
T A B
0
G
A
A
B
C
C
D
D
E
F
F
G
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Chromatic Scale on B String
Note: B
C
C
D
D
E
F
F
G
G
A
A
B
T A B
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
G 4
A 5
A 6
B 7
C 8
C 9
D 10
D 11
E 12
0
Chromatic Scale on High E String
Note: E 0
T A B
F 1
F 2
G 3
Matching Notes on Adjacent Strings
A
T A B
5
A
0
D
5
D
0
G
5
2
G
B
0
4
B
E
0
5
E 0
Sharps and Flats A sharp raises the pitch of a note by one half step, while a flat lowers the pitch of a note by one half step. The context of the note’s appearance along with the key of the song determines whether it’s a sharp or flat. Each sharped note has a flatted counterpart—a note that is the same:
F
T A B
=
G
2
G
2
=
A
4
A
=
1
4
B
C
1
4
=
D
D
=
E
1
4
1
Chromatic Scale Across All Six Strings
E F
T A B 0
F G G A A B C C D D E F
1 2 3
4
0
1 2 3
4
0
1 2 3
F G G A A B C
4
0
1 2
3
0 1
C D D E F
2 3
4
0 1
F G G A A B C
C D D E
2 3
9 10 11 12
4 5
6 7 8
Chromatic Notes in Music Chromatic scales aren’t often used in music, though chromatic notes are used often. Here are several examples of chromatic notes in bass runs.
A
D
x0 12 3 0
Bass run into A:
T A B
1 2 3 4
G
x x 0 13 2
2 10 0 0 3
Bass run into G:
Bass run into D:
0
0 2 2 2
0
0 2 2 2
1 2 3
3
4
0
2 3 2
2 3 2 0
1 2 3 4
0
3 0 0
3 0 0 3
The Diatonic (Major) Scale C-Major Scale Built from the following combination of whole- and 1/2- steps. (1/2 step = 1 fret; whole step = 2 frets) whole step step
C
whol whole e step
D
1/2 step
E
whole step tep
F
who whole step step
G
whol hole step
A
1/2 step
B
C
G-Major Scale You You can build any any major scale using using the formula of whole and 1/2 steps we learned above. above. whole step step
G
who whole step
A
1/2 step
B
E-Major Scale on Sixth String whole step step
T A B
whol whole e step
whole step step
C
1/2 step
whol whole e step step
D
whole step tep
who whole step
E
who whole step step
1/2 step
F
whol hole step
G
1/2 step
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
0
2
4
5
7
9
11
12
D-Major Scale on Fourth String whole step step
who whole step
1/2 step
whole ste step
whol whole e step step
who whole step
1/2 step
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
T A 0 B
2
4
5
7
9
11
12
4
B-Major Scale on Second String whole step step
who whole step
1/2 step
whole ste step
whol whole e step step
who whole step
1/2 step
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
T 0 A B
2
4
5
7
9
11
12
E-Major Scale on Multiple Strings Descending
Ascending whole step whole step step half half step step whole whole step whole step whole step step half half step step
E
T A B
F
0
G
2
4
A
B
C
0
2
4
D
E
E
D
1
2
2
1
C
B
A
4
2
0
G
F
E
4
2
0
A-Major Scale on Multiple Strings whole step step
A
T A B
whol whole e step
B
0
1/2 step
C
2
4
whole step tep
who whole step step
whol hole step
D
E
F
0
2
4
1/2 step
G
A
1
2
Distance between Strings All strings have the distance of a 4th between them, except for the G and B strings, which have a 3rd between them.
T A B
Low E to A String
A to D String
1
1
0
2
2
3
4
4
0
0
2
2
3
4
D to G String
4
0
1
0
2
3
2
4
5
B to High E String
G to B String
4
1
2
0
0
2
3
1
2
3
0
0
2
4
4 0
Bass Runs with the Major Scale From E to A
From A to D
E
A
0 0 1 2 2 0
T A B
A
x 0 12 3 0
0 23 1 00
0
2
D
x 0 1 23 0
0 2 2 2
0
4
From D to G
0 2 2 2 0
D
x x 0 13 2
0
2
2 3 2
0
4
G
x x0 13 2
2 3 2 0
2 10 00 3
0
2
0
4
3 0 0 0 2 3
C-Major Scale Going up to G whole step whole
C
T A B
D
E
0
3
1/2
whole
F
2
3
whole
G
0
whole
A
2
1/2
whole
whole
B
C
D
0
1
3
1/2
whole
E
F
G
0
1
3
Major-Scale Degrees Each note of the scale has its own degree (number), starting with 1. Here are the scale degrees for an extended C-major scale in first position. Degree: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1* 2 3 4 5 4 3 2 1 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 7
C D E F
T A B
3
0 2 3
G A B C
0 2
0 1
D E F G 0 1 3 3
F E D C 1 0 3 1
B A G F
0
2 0
* or 8.
6
3
E D C B
2 0
3 2
6 5 4 3
4 5 6 7
1
A G F E
F G A B
C
0 2
3
0
3 1 0
1 3
Scale Degrees in Songs (key of C) Play through common melodies and name their scale degrees as you go.
“Row, Row, Row, Ro Row w Your Boat” Degree: 1
1
1
2
3
3 2 3 4
5
1 1 5 5
3 3 1 1
5 4 3 2
1
C
C
C D
E
E D E F
G
C C G G
E E C C
G F E D
C
T A B
3
3
3
0
2
1 1
0
2 0 2 3
0 0
2 2
0
3 2 0
3 3
3
“Joy to the World” Degree: 8
T A B
7
1
0
6 5
4
2 0
3
3
2
2
0
1
5
6
6 7
7
8
8
8 7 6 5 5 4 3 8
8 7 6 5 5 4 3
0
2
2
0
0
1
1
1 0
1 0
0
T A B
T A B
3 1
7
0
3
3
0
2
2
0
2 0 0
3 2
“This Land Is Your Land”
2 1 2
3
3 2
3
“Turn, Turn, Turn” Degree: 3 2 1
1
2 0 0
6
5
2
0
4
4
3
3
3
2
1 2 3
4
4
4 1 2
3
3
3 1 3
2
2
0 2
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
0
0
1
7 5 7 2
1
3
2
3
3
0
1 2 3
4
4
4 1 2
3
3
2 2
0 2
3
3
3
2
2
0 0
3
3
0
7
3
3
2
0
3
Five Steps up from C = G Major (1 sharp) Scale Degrees for the G-Major Scale Degree: 1 2 3 4
5 6
7 1
2 3 4 5
6
7 1 7
6 5 4 3
2 1
7 6
5 4 3 2
1
G A B C
D E
F G
A B C D
E 0
F G F 2 3 2
E D C B 0 3 1 0
A G
F E
D C B A
G
4 2
0
T A B
0 2 3
3
0 2
0
4
2
0 1 3
2 0
3 2 0
3
Scale Degrees in Songs (key of G) Degree: 1 2 3
4
4
4 1 2
3
3
5 5 5
6 5 4
5 3 2
1
5 5 5
6 5 4
5
G A B
C
C
C G A
B
B
D D D
E D C
D B A
G
D D D
E D C
D
0 2
3
3
3
2
2
0 0 0
2 0
0
0 0 0
2 0
0
T A B
3
3
0
Five Steps up from G = D Major (2 sharps) Scale Degrees for the D-Major Scale Degree: 1 2
3 4
5 6
D E
F G
AB C
0 2
T A B
0 2
4
0
2
7 1 (8)
E F
T A B
2 4
3 4
5 6
3 2 1
1 2
3 4
5 6
D
C B A G
F E D
A B
C D
E F G A
3
2 0
G A B C D E
1 2
3
7 6 5 4
7 1 (8)
0 2 4
2 0
2 0
0
4 2 0
0 2
4
0
2 4
7 1 (8)
1
2
6 5 4
3
2 1
1
2
3 4
5
D
C B A
G
F E
B C
D E
F G A B
4
2 0
1
7
6 5 4
3
G
F E D
C B A
1
4 2 0
4
2 1
2 0
Five Steps up from E = B Major (5 sharps) Scale Degrees for the B-Major Scale
7
2
3
Five Steps up from D = A Major (3 sharps) Scale Degrees for the A-Major Scale
Five Steps up from A = E Major (4 sharps) Scale Degrees for the E-Major Scale Degree: 1 2
3
4 2
8
2
4
1 2
4
6
7 1 (8)
1 3
0
7
6
5 4
3
2 1
A
G
F E
D
C B
3
1
4 2
1
4 2
Keys with Flats Four Steps up from C = F Major (1 flat)
Four Steps up from F = B Major (2 flats)
Scale Degrees for the F-Major Scale
Scale Degrees for the B -Major Scale
T A B
1 2 3
4
5 6 7 1 (8)
7 6 5
4
3
2
1
1 2 3
4
5 6 7 1 (8)
7 6 5
4
3
2
1
F G A
B
C D E
F
E D C
B
A G
F
B C D
E
F G A
B
A G F
E
D C
B
0 2
3
2 0
0
1
3
0 2
3
2 0
1
0
0
1 3
1
3
3
1
0
3
1 3
1
3
3
1
Four Steps up from B = E Major (3 flats)
Four Steps up from E = A Major (4 flats)
Scale Degrees for the E -Major Scale
Scale Degrees for the A -Major Scale
T A B
1 2 3
4
5 6 7 1 (8) 7 6
E F G
A
B C D
0
1
3
1 3
1 3
5
4
3
2
1
1
2 3
E
D C B
A
G F
E
A
B C D
4
3 1
1
0
3
3
1 4
Four Steps up from A = D Major (5 flats)
T A B
2 3 4
5
D
E F G
A B C D
4
1 3 4
6 7 1 (8) 7 6
1 3
1 2
4
3
2
1
1
C B A G
F
E
D
G A B C
1
5
1 3 4
3 1
4
3
1
5 6 7 1 (8)
7 6
5
4
3
2
1
E FG A
G F E
D
C
B
A
4
3
1
1 3
0
1
0
3 1
4
Four Steps up from D = G Major (6 flats) Scale Degrees for the G -Major Scale
Scale Degrees for the D -Major Scale 1
4
4
4
2
3
1 3
4 *
0
5
D E F G
2 4
* C = B
9
6 7 1 (8) 7 6
1 2
4
3
2
1
F E D C
B
A
G
3
1
1
4
5
2 0
4
Chord Theory Major Chords (also called major “triads”) Built from the 1st, 3rd, and 5th degrees of a major scale. The 1st degree of a major chord is also called the “root.”
C Major Chords
C
C
x3 2 0 1 0
C
x32 0 14
34201 0
0 1 0 2 3
T A B
3 1 0 2 3
G
G
2 10 0 0 3
E
2 1 00 3 4
3 3 0 0 2 3
A Major Chord
A
x x 0 13 2
3 1 5 1
5 3 1 5 1
1 5 3 1 5 1
0 0 1 2 2 0
D Major Chord
D
x0 12 3 0
0 23 1 0 0
1 5 1 5 3 1
1 3 1 5 3 1 3 0 0 0 2 3
0 1 0 2 3 3
E Major Chord
G Major Chords
T A B
3 1 5 3 1 5
5 1 5 3 1
3 1 5 3 1
0 2 2 2 0
2 3 2 0
Seventh Chords (also called “dominant seventh” chords) Built from the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th degrees of a major scale; or just add a 7th degree to a major chord. To get the 7th degree, lower a 7th by one fret (1/2 step).
D7 Chord
D
7th chords resolve to a chord 4 notes away:
7
D
x x0 2 1 3
7
xx0 2 1 3
G
C7 Chord
C
2 1 2 0
2 1 2 0
C7
x3 2 4 1 0
210003
3 7 5 1
T A B
C7 resolves to F:
7
3 0 0 0 2 3
0 1 3 2 3
10
3 1 7 3 1
F
x3 2 4 1 0
xx 3 2 1 1
0 1 3 2 3
1 1 2 3
G7 resolves to C. In this context, we call
G7 Chord
A7 Chord
G7 the “V7” chord and C the “I” chord.*
G7
32 00 0 1
V7
I
G7
C
A7
x3 2 0 1 0
32 0 0 0 1
7 A x0 1 1 1 2
x0 1 1 1 2
7 3 1 5 3 1
T A B
A7 resolves to D: V7 I
D
x x0 13 2
7 3 1 5 1
1 0 0 0 2 3
1 0 0 0 2 3
0 1 0 2 3
3 2 2 2 0
3 2 2 2 0
2 3 2 0
* (whatever key you’re in is the I chord)
More V7–I Cadences Key of G: V7
D
I Chords As 7th Chords (I7 Chords) Key of C: V7
I
7
G
G
7
Key of D: I
I
C
D
I7
D
IV
7
G
V7
A
I
7
D
x x0 2 1 3
2 10 0 0 3
32 00 0 1
x 32 0 1 0
xx0 1 3 2
x x0 2 1 3
2 10 0 0 3
x0 1 1 1 2
x x0 13 2
2 1 2 0
3 0 0 0 2 3
1 0 0 0 2 3
0 1 0 2 3
2 3 2 0
2 1 2 0
3 0 0 0 2 3
3 2 2 2 0
2 3 2 0
T A B
Key of E: I I7
E
E
7
IV
V7
A
7
B
Key of C: I I7
I
E
C
C
7
IV
V7
F
7
G
I
C
0 23 1 0 0
0 231 4 0
x0 1 2 3 0
x2 1 3 0 4
0 23 1 00
x 32 0 1 0
x3 2 4 10
xx 3 2 11
32 00 0 1
x 32 0 1 0
0 0 1 2 2 0
0 3 1 2 2 0
0 2 2 2 0
2 0 2 1 2
0 0 1 2 2 0
0 1 0 2 3
0 1 3 2 3
1 1 2 3
1 0 0 0 2 3
0 1 0 2 3
T A B
11
Major 7th, 7th, and 6th Chords Major 7th (maj7): built from 1, 3, 5, and 7th degrees of the major scale. 7th (7): built from 1, 3, 5, and 7th degrees of the major scale. 6th (6): built from 1, 3, 5, and 6th degrees of the major scale. For D:
D
x x0 13 2
For G:
D
maj7
xx 0 11 1
D
xx0 2 1 3
6
7
2 3 2 0
x x0 2 0 3
7
2 2 2 0
2 10 0 0 3
2 1 2 0
C maj7
x 32 0 1 0
2 0 2 0
C7
x3 2 0 0 0
1
T A B
7
0 0 0 2 3
3 5 7 8
023140
1
0 1 2 2 3
32 00 0 1
320000
6
7
0 0 0 0 2 3
E7
0 2 0 140
7
0 0 1 2 2 0
G6
1 0 0 0 2 3
E maj7
0 23 1 0 0
6
0
2 0 0 0 2 3
E
x4 2 3 1 0
G7
7
3 0 0 0 2 3 For E:
C6
x 3241 0
7
0 1 0 2 3
32 0 00 1
6
For C:
C
G maj7
G
1
1
T A B
D
7
0 4 1 2 2 0
E6
0 23140
6
7
0 3 1 0 2 0
0 2 1 2 2 0
Ninth Chords Ninth chords (9): built from 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9th degrees of the major scale. (9 = 2 one octave up) You You also need a 7th degree for the chord to be a 9th.
For A:
A
x0 11 1 4
A maj7 x 0 11 1 3
1
T A B
5 2 2 2 0
A7
x0 1 1 1 2
3 2 2 2 0
C9
x0 1 1 1 1
7
7
4 2 2 2 0
A6
x 2 13 4 x
D9
2 x0 31 0
6
2 2 2 2 0
3 3 2 3 12
0 1 2 0 2
