How To Use A Guitar Fretboard Chart For Finding Guitar Chords And Scales
The guitar fretboard chart is a useful tool. The guitar fretboard chart is a picture of guitar fretboard. It is a road map for find guitar chords and scales. What steps must be taken to understand this guitar chart?
Memorize the Natural Notes
First, we must memorize the natural notes on the fretboard chart. Next, we must learn the basic guitar chord and scale shapes. Finally, we must find natural, sharped and flatted notes with only a memorization of natural notes.
Making a B b Chord
In order to understand the guitar fretboard chart let's do an example. Let's start by making a B b (flat) chord.
Looking for a B Note
First, we assume we have already memorized the chart. Next, we look on the chart for a B note since it has the same name as a B b note. We find a B note on the 2nd fret of the A string. Now we must find a major chord shape which has it's root notes on the A string. I will explain in more detail about guitar chord shapes so you can understand.
Finding Root Notes and Chord Shapes
Let's say we have a chord shape which has it's root note on the A string. What does that mean? Well, if you make this chord shape near around the 1st fret (You will have the root note on the 1st fret of the A string.) then you will have a B b chord. On the other hand, if you have this chord shape around the 2nd fret then you will have a B chord. Likewise, if you have this chord shape around the 3rd fret then you will have a C chord. Do you get the picture? Now, let's finish our little project.
Finishing Our Example
We saw that on the 1st fret the chord shape is the B b chord so we are finished. Now, we need to find a C # (sharp) major scale. How do we do that?
Finding a Scale Using the Fretboard Chart
First, we look on the guitar fretboard chart for a C note. We find one on the A string 3rd fret. Next, we look for a major scale shape which has it's root notes on the A string. The procedure is similar to finding a chord shape. We simply move the scale shape around the 4th fret and we make a C # major scale (Remember the notes below a natural note generally are sharped notes while notes above the natural note are flatted notes.). How can we use the chart for finding guitar chord progressions?
Finding Chord Progressions Using the Chart
A major guitar progression is made up of I (first) chord, a IV (fourth) chord and a V (fifth) chord. How do we know that? Let's look at an example for better understanding. Let's find a G chord progression.
Searching for a G Major Progression
First, we look at the G major scale since it has the same letter name as a G chord progression. The G major scale is composed of the G, A, B, C, D, E, and F # notes. The G note is the 1st note. The A note is second note etc. How does this relate to anything. Well, the I chord is a G chord because the 1st note in the scale is a G. Likewise, the IV chord is the C chord because C is the fourth scale note and D is the V chord because D is the fifth scale note.
Now we know which chords are in the key of G so let's look at the chart.
keeping the Chords Near to Each Other
We look on the chart for a G note. We find one on the Low E string 3rd fret. We then proceed to make a chord from our knowledge of guitar chord shapes. Next, we do the same thing with C and D. We make sure these root notes are close to each other to make a good guitar progression and that's all folks. Let's sum it up our fretboard study.
Different Ways of Learning the Guitar Fretboard Chart
There are a few different ways to learn the guitar chart. One way is to learn arpeggios all over the fretboard. I prefer my way because it seems easier for beginners. However, you might have your own unique learning style or preference. Nonetheless, we cannot deny that this chart is our road map for traveling the guitar highway.
