Learning the Notes on the Fretboard

Tuning Notes for the Strings

E
B
G
T
D A
A
E
B
12th Fret = Midway Point of Guitar = Notes One Octave Higher than Open Strings

˙ ˙
˙
Low E String A String D String G String B String High E String

˙ ˙ ˙
& ˙ ˙ ˙
˙ ˙
˙
Note: E E A A D D G G B B E E
0 12
T 0 12
0 12
A 0 12
B 0 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 1/2 step

& œ #œ œ
4

œ #œ
2 3

œ
4 1

œ #œ
1 2 3 4 1 2 3

œ œ #œ œ #œ
Note: E F #
F G #
G A #
A B C #
C D #
D E

T
A
B 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
* Each fret = 1/2 step apart; Chromatic scale built from 12 half steps.

Chromatic Scale on A String

& œ œ #œ œ #œ œ
œ #œ œ œ #œ œ #œ
Note: A #
A B C #
C D #
D E F #
F G #
G A

T
A 5 6 7
B 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

1
 œ #œ œ œ #œ œ
& œ œ #œ
Chromatic Scale on D String

#œ œ œ #œ
Note: D #
D E F #
F G #
G A #
A B C #
C D

T
A 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
B

œ #œ œ #œ œ œ #œ œ
œ
Chromatic Scale on G String

& œ #œ œ #œ
Note: G #
G A #
A B C #
C D #
D E F #
F G

T 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
A
B

œ œ #œ œ #œ œ #œ œ
œ #œ œ #œ
& œ
Chromatic Scale on B String

Note: B C #
C D #
D E F #
F G #
G A #
A B

T 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
A
B
œ œ #œ œ #œ œ
œ œ #œ œ
Chromatic Scale on High E String
#œ œ #œ
&
Note: E F #
F G #
G A #
A B C #
C D #
D E
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
T
A
B

˙ ˙
Matching Notes on Adjacent Strings

& ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙
˙ ˙ ˙ ˙
A A D D G G B B E E
0
T 0 4
0 5
A 0 5
B 5
0 5

2
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:

& b˙ #˙ b˙
#˙ b˙ #˙ b˙ #˙ b˙ #˙
#
F = b
G #
G = b
A #
A = b
B #
C = b
D #
D = b
E

T
A 1 1
B 2 2 4 4
1 1 4 4

œ œ #œ œ #œ œ
Chromatic Scale Across All Six Strings

œ œ # œ œ # œ œ # œ
& œ œ # œ œ # œ œ #œ œ œ #œ œ #œ
œ #œ œ # œ
œ œ #œ œ #œ œ #œ œ
E F #
F G #
G A #
A B C #
C D D E F #
F G #
G A #
A B C #
C D #
D E F #
F G #
G A #
A B C #
C D #
D E
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
T 0 1 2 3
0 1 2 3 4
A 0 1 2 3 4
B 0 1 2 3 4
0 1 2 3 4

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 G
x0 12 3 0 x x 0 13 2 2 10 0 0 3

Bass run into A: Bass run into D: Bass run into G:

# œœœ œœœ # œœ œœ œ œ
& 44 Ó œ œ œ
Ó
œ œ œ Ó œ œ
#œ œ œ #œ œ œ œ œ
œ #œ œ #œ œ #œ œ œ #œ œ
0 0 2 2 3 3
T 2
2
2
2
3
2
3
2 0
0
0
0
0
A 2 2 0 1 2 3 4
B 1 2 3 4
0 0 1 2 3 4 0
3

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)

œ œ
whole step whole step 1/2 step whole step whole step whole step 1/2 step

&œ œ œ œ œ
œ
C D E F G A B C

G-Major Scale
You can build any major scale using the formula of whole and 1/2 steps we learned above.

œ œ #œ œ
whole step whole step 1/2 step whole step whole step whole step 1/2 step

&œ œ œ œ
G A B C D E #
F G

E-Major Scale on Sixth String

whole step whole step 1/2 step whole step whole step whole step 1/2 step

& #œ œ
#œ œ œ #œ Œ
œ #œ
E #
F #
G A B #
C #
D E

T
A
B 0 2 4 5 7 9 11 12

D-Major Scale on Fourth String

œ #œ œ
whole step whole step 1/2 step whole step whole step whole step 1/2 step

&œ œ #œ œ œ
D E #
F G A B #
C D

T
A0 2 4 5 7 9 11 12
B

4
B-Major Scale on Second String

#œ #œ œ
whole step whole step 1/2 step whole step whole step whole step 1/2 step

#œ #œ œ #œ
&œ
B #
C #
D E #
F #
G #
A B

T0 2 4 5 7 9 11 12
A
B
E-Major Scale on Multiple Strings
Ascending Descending

&
whole step whole step half step whole step whole step whole step half step

œ #œ #œ œ œ #œ #œ œ œ
œ #œ #œ œ #œ #œ œ
E #
F #
G A B #
C #
D E E #
D #
C B A #
G #
F E
T
A 1 2 2 1
B 0 2 4
0 2 4 4 2 0
4 2 0

A-Major Scale on Multiple Strings

œ
whole step whole step 1/2 step whole step whole step whole step 1/2 step

& #œ œ œ #œ #œ
œ œ
A B C D E F G A

T 1 2
A 0 2 4
B 0 2 4

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.

œ œ #œ #œ œ
Low E to A String A to D String

œ
D to G String G to B String B to High E String

& œ œ #œ œ œ
œ #œ #œ œ œ œ #œ œ
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 4
0
T 0 0 2
0 0 2 4
A 0 0 2 4
B 0 2 4
0 0 2 4

5
 Bass Runs with the Major Scale
From E to A From A to D From D to G
E
0 2 3 10 0
A
x0 1 2 3 0
A
x 0 1 23 0
D
x x 0 1 32
D
x x0 1 3 2
G
2 10 00 3

œ # ˙˙˙ ... # œœœ # ˙˙ .. # œœ ˙ ..

& 44 # œœœ ˙. œœ œ œ # œ œ ˙ . œ
œ œ œ #œ œ
˙˙ .
˙˙˙ ...
œœ œ # œ # œ œ
0 0 0 2 2 3
T 0
1
2
2
2
2
3
2
3
2 0
0
0
A 2 2 2 0 0 0 2 4 0
B 2
0 0 2 4
0 0 0 2 4 2
3

C-Major Scale Going up to G

œ œ œ œ
whole step whole 1/2 whole whole whole 1/2 whole whole 1/2 whole

&œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ
C D E F G A B C D E F G

0 1 3
T 0 2
0 1 3
A 0 2 3
B 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.

4 œ œ œ œ œœœ
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

&4 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œœœœ
6 5 4 3 4 5 6 7 1

œœ œ œ œ
œœœ œœœœ w
C D E F G A B C D E F G F E D C B A G F E D C B A G F E F G A B C
0 1 3 1 0
T 0 2
0 1 3 3 1 0
2 0
A 0 2 3 3 2 0
B 3 3 2 0
3 1 0 1 3
0 2 3
* or 8.

6
Scale Degrees in Songs (key of C)
Play through common melodies and name their scale degrees as you go.

“Row, Row, Row Your Boat”

4 œ œ œ œ
Degree: 1 1 1 2 3 3 2 3 4 5 1 1 5 5 3 3 1 1 5 4 3 2 1

&4 œ œ œ œ w œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ w
˙ ˙ œ œ ˙
C C C D E E D E F G C C G G E E C C G F E D C

T 0
1 1
0 0 0
A 0 2 2 0 2 3 2 2 3 2 0
B 3 3 3 3 3 3

“Joy to the World”

j j
& 44 œ œ . œ œ . œj œ œ œ . œ œ . œ œ . œJ ˙ .
Degree: 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 8 7 6 5 5 4 3 8 8 7 6 5 5 4 3

œ œ œœœœœœ œ œœœœœœ ‰
œ œ

T 1 0
2 0 0 2 2
0 0 1 1 1 0
2 0 0
1 1 0
2 0 0
A 3 2 0 3 2 3 2
B 3

“Turn, Turn, Turn” “This Land Is Your Land”

4 œœ
& 4 Œ œ œ ˙. Œ Œœ Œœ œ
Degree: 3 2 1 7 6 5 4 4 3 1 2 3 4 4 4 1 2 3 3 3 1 3 2 2

˙. œ œ ˙. œœœ ˙ ˙ œœ ˙ ˙ œ ˙ ˙
0
T 3 1 0
2 0
A 3 3 2 0 2 3 3 3 0 2 2 2 2 0 0
B 3 3 3

&Œœ œ œ ˙ ˙ Œ Œœ 
2 1 2 3 3 1 2 3 4 4 4 1 2 3 3 2 2 1 7 5 7 2 1

œœœ ˙ ˙ œœ ˙ ˙ œ ˙ œ œ œœ w
œ
T
A 0 0 2 2 0 2 3 3 3 0 2 2 0 0 0
B 3 3 3 3 2
3
2 3

7
Five Steps up from C = G Major (1 sharp)
Scale Degrees for the G-Major Scale

œ
4 œ œ œ #œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
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

&4 # œ œ œ œ #œ œ œ œ
œœ
œ œ œ œ œ œ w
G A B C D E #
F G A B C D E #
F G F E D C B A G #
F E D C B A G
0 2 3 2 0
T 0 2
0 1 3 3 1 0
2 0
A 0 2 4 4 2 0
B 3
0 2 3 3 2 0
3

Scale Degrees in Songs (key of G)

& 44 Œ
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

Œ
˙ œœ ˙œœ ˙ œœ w ˙ œœ ˙œœ w
œœœ ˙ ˙ œœœ ˙ ˙
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

T
A 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0
B 3
0 2 3 3 3
3
0 2 2 3 2 0
3
3

Five Steps up from G = D Major (2 sharps) Five Steps up from D = A Major (3 sharps)
Scale Degrees for the D-Major Scale Scale Degrees for the A-Major Scale

& 44 œ œ # œ œ œ œ # œ œ # œ œ œ œ # œ œ ˙
Degree: 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

# œ œ œ #œ #œ œ #œ #œ œ œ #œ œ
œ œ ˙
D E #
F G A B #
C D #
C B A G #
F E D A B #
C D E #
F #
G A #
G #
F E D #
C B A

T 0 2
0 2 3 2 0
2 0 1 2 1
A 0 2 4 4 2 0 0 2 4 4 2 0
B 0 2 4 4 2 0

Five Steps up from A = E Major (4 sharps) Five Steps up from E = B Major (5 sharps)
Scale Degrees for the E-Major Scale Scale Degrees for the B-Major Scale
œ
& 44 œ # œ # œ œ œ # œ # œ # œ # œ œ œ # œ # œ ˙ # œ # œ œ # œ # œ # œ œ # œ # œ # œ œ # œ # œ
Degree: 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

œ ˙
E #
F #
G A B #
C #
D E #
D #
C B A #
G #
F E B #
C #
D E #
F #
G #
A B #
A #
G #
F E D C B
0
T 1 2
0 2 4 4 2 0
2 1 1 3
0
3 1
A 2 4 4 2 1 2 4 4 2 1
B 2 4 4 2

8
 Keys with Flats

Four Steps up from C = F Major (1 flat) Four Steps up from F = B b Major (2 flats)
Scale Degrees for the F-Major Scale Scale Degrees for the B b-Major Scale

& 44 œ œ bœ œ œ œ bœ œ œ
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

œ œ œ œ œ œ bœ œ œ œ b œ œ
œ œ œ bœ œ bœ œ b˙
˙
F G A b
B C D E F E D C b
B A G F b
B C D b
E F G A b
B A G F b
E D C b
B

T 0 2 3 2 0
A 0 2 3 2 0 0 1 3 3 1 0
B 1 3
0 1 3 3 1 0
3 1
1 3 3 1

Four Steps up from Bb = E b Major (3 flats) Four Steps up from E b = A b Major (4 flats)
Scale Degrees for the E b-Major Scale Scale Degrees for the A b-Major Scale

bœ œ œ bœ bœ
& 44 b œ œ œ b œ b œ œ œ
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

œ œ b˙ œ œ bœ œ œ bœ bœ œ bœ
bœ bœ œ bœ bœ b˙
b
E F G b
A b
B C D b
E D C b
B b
A G F b
E b
A b
B C b
D b
E F G b
A G F b
E b
D C b
B b
A

T 0 1 3
1 3 4 3 1
3 1 0 0 1 0
A 1 3 3 1 1 3 3 1
B 4
1 3 4 4 3 1
4

Four Steps up from A b = D b Major (5 flats) Four Steps up from D b = Gb Major (6 flats)
Scale Degrees for the D b-Major Scale Scale Degrees for the G b-Major Scale

bœ œ bœ œ bœ bœ bœ bœ bœ
& 44 b œ b œ œ b œ b œ b œ œ b œ œ b œ b œ b œ œ b œ b ˙ b œ b œ b œ b œ b œ
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

b˙
*

b
D b
E F b
G b
A b
B C b
D C b
B b
A b
G F b
E b
D b
G b
A b
B b
C b
D b
E F b
G F b
E b
D b
C b
B b
A b
G
1 2 1
T 1 3
1 2 1
3 1 1 3
0 2 4 4 2 0
3 1
A 1 3 4 4 3 1 4 4
B 4 4
* Cb = B

9
 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
x3 20 1 0
C
x 32 0 14
C
34 2 0 1 0

ww ww ww
& 44
3

www www www

3 5
1 1 1

w
5 5 5
3 3
3 1
1 1 5
0 3 0
T 1
0
1
0
1
0
A 2 2 2
B 3 3 3
3
G Major Chords E Major Chord A Major Chord D Major Chord
G G E A D
2 10 0 0 3 2 10 0 3 4 0 23 1 0 0 x0 1 2 3 0 x x 0 13 2

w ww w # ww
& www ww # www # www ww
1 1 1 5 3

ww
3 5 1

ww ww ww
5 3
1 1 3 1 5
5 5 1 5 1
3 3 5 1
1 1 1
3 3 0 0 2
T 0
0
3
0
0
1
2
2
3
2
A 0 0 2 2 0
B 2
3
2
3
2
0
0

Seventh Chords (also called “dominant seventh” chords)

Built from the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and b7th degrees of a major scale; or just add a b7th degree to a major chord.
To get the b7th degree, lower a 7th by one fret (1/2 step).

D7 Chord C7 Chord C7 resolves to F:

7th chords resolve to a chord 4 notes away:
7 7
D
x x0 2 1 3
D
xx0 2 1 3
G
2 10 0 0 3
C7
x 3 24 1 0
C7
x 32 4 1 0
F
xx 3 2 1 1

#w # ˙˙ ˙ ˙˙
& www ˙˙ ˙˙ b wwww b ˙˙˙˙ ˙˙
3

˙˙˙
3
b7
w ˙
1
b7
5
1 3
1
2 2 3 0 0 1
T 1
2
1
2
0
0
1
3
1
3
1
2
A 0 0 0 2 2 3
B 2
3
3 3

10
G7 Chord G7 resolves to C. In this context, we call A7 Chord
G7 the “V7” chord and C the “I” chord.* A7 resolves to D:
V7 I V7 I
G7 G7 C A7 A 7 D
3 20 0 0 1 32 0 0 0 1 x3 20 1 0 x0 1 1 12 x 0 1 11 2 x x 0 13 2

w b7
˙ ˙˙ w b7
˙ # ˙˙
& www ˙˙ ˙˙˙ # ww # ˙˙ ˙
˙˙˙ ww ˙˙ ˙
3

ww
3
1 1
5
3 5
1 1

1 1 0 3 3 2
T 0
0
0
0
1
0
2
2
2
2
3
2
A 0 0 2 2 2 0
B 2
3
2
3
3 0 0

* (whatever key you’re in is the I chord)

More V7–I Cadences I Chords As 7th Chords (I7 Chords)

Key of G: Key of C: Key of D:
V7 I V7 I I I7 IV V7 I
7 7
D
x x0 2 1 3
G
2 10 0 0 3
G
32 00 0 1
C
x3 20 1 0
D
x x 0 13 2
D7
x x0 2 1 3
G
210 0 0 3
A7
x0 11 1 2
D
x x0 1 32

˙ ˙
#˙
& ˙˙˙ ˙˙
˙˙
˙˙
˙˙
˙˙˙
# ˙˙
˙˙
˙˙
˙˙ ˙˙ # ˙˙˙ # ww
ww
˙˙˙ ˙˙ ˙˙˙ ˙˙

2 3 1 0 2 2 3 3 2
T 1
2
0
0
0
0
1
0
3
2
1
2
0
0
2
2
3
2
A 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 0
B 2
3
2
3
3 2
3
0

Key of E: Key of C:
I I7 IV V7 I I I7 IV V7 I
7 7 7
E E A B E C C F G7 C
0 23100 0 23 1 4 0 x0 12 3 0 x 21 3 0 4 0 23100 x3 20 1 0 x 32 4 1 0 xx 3 2 1 1 32 0 0 0 1 x3 20 1 0

˙ ˙˙˙ # ˙˙˙ # ˙˙ w ˙˙ b ˙˙˙˙ ˙˙ ˙˙ ww

& # ˙˙˙ ˙˙ ˙˙ # ˙˙˙ # www ˙˙˙ ˙
˙˙ ˙˙ www
˙˙ ww ˙˙
˙
0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 1 0
T 0
1
3
1
2
2
0
2
0
1
1
0
1
3
1
2
0
0
1
0
A 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 3 0 2
B 2
0
2
0
0 2 2
0
3 3 2
3
3

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 b7th degrees of the major scale.
6th (6): built from 1, 3, 5, and 6th degrees of the major scale.
For D: For G:
D D ma j7 D7 D6 G G ma j7 G7 G6
x x0 1 3 2 xx0 1 11 xx0 2 1 3 x x0 2 0 3 210 0 0 3 3 20 0 0 1 32 00 0 1 3200 0 0

#w # # www 7 # ww b # ww w1 # ww 7 n ww b7 ww
& www 1 w
ww 7 ww 6 ww
www ww ww ww
6

ww ww ww
2 2 2 2 3 2 1 0
T 3
2
2
2
1
2
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
B 2
3
2
3
2
3
2
3
For C: For E:
C C ma j7 C7 C6 E E ma j7 E7 E6
x3 20 10 x 3200 0 x 32 41 0 x 4 23 10 0 2 3 10 0 0 2 31 4 0 0 20 140 0 23 14 0

ww 1 ww b wwww b7 www w1 w w w
& www www 7 ww 6 # www # # www 7 # n www b7 # # www 6
w ww ww ww ww
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
T 1
0
0
0 3
1
2
0
1
4
1
3
1
2
1
A 2 2 5 2 2 2 0 2
B 3 3 7
8
3 2
0
2
0
2
0
2
0

Ninth Chords
Ninth chords (9): built from 1, 3, 5, b7, and 9th
degrees of the major scale. (9 = 2 one octave up)
For A: You also need a b7th degree for the chord to be a 9th.
ma j7
A
x0 11 1 4
A
x
A7
x 0 1 11 2
A6
x 0 11 1 1
9
C
x2 1 3 4 x
9
D
0 1 11 3 2 x0 3 1 0

w
& www
# # # www 7 # n www # # www 6 b www www
1 b7

w ww ww ww w w
#w
5 4 3 2 0
T 2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
1
2
A 2 2 2 2 2 0
B 0 0 0 0 3
2

12