The Ultimate Fretboard Guide - Guitar5day.comThe Ultimate Fretboard Guide Chapter 1: The 5 Basic Chord Forms The guitar when tuned to standard (this is the most basic) tuning: Thickest

The Ultimate Fretboard Guide

C Major (Ionian)

By Andrew Koblick


Chapter 2: The Major scales of the 5 Basic Chord Forms . . . . . . . 2

Contents

Chapter 1: The 5 Basic Chord Forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Chapter 3: Linking the 5 Major Chord Forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Chapter 4: Fleshing out the Skeleton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Chapter 5: Pentatonic Tabs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

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Chapter 6: The Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21



Chapter 4: Fleshing out the Skeleton


Chapter 1: The 5 Basic Chord Forms

The guitar when tuned to standard (this is the most basic) tuning:

Thickest

Thinnest

The Guitar can be covered by knowing the 5 Basic chord Patterns. The Chord patterns are laid out to Spell C-A-G-E-D

These chords can all be played in the open position:

Open position refers to a chord played on the far left (for right handed guitar) portion of the fretboard.

Here are the diagrams for these Chords:

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Chapter 1: The 5 Basic Chord Forms

(frets)


Chapter 2: The Major scales of the 5 Basic Chord Forms

Major Chords

C A

G

E D

These are the Chord Forms that will out line the Fretboard.Now Lets put them together on the Fretboard for the Key of C

Chapter 2: The Major Scales of the 5 Basic Chord Forms

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Play String Open

Do Not Play String


Chapter 3: Linking the 5 Major Chord Forms

At the Open Fret We see the C Form Position and the A Form Position(Note the A form is usally a Bar Chord) The C played on the 3rd Fret of the A stringIs the root of each chord.

Now we see the 3 Notes in a row played with the 3rd finger in the A form above are the same notes used below in the G form (played with the 1st finger).

At the 8th Fret we See the G Form Position (Root on 8th Fret / 4th Finger) and


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And Finally at the 10th Fret the D Position. The Link between the E Form and the D form is at the 10th Fret.

The C Position has the third finger on the Root (A string 3rd Fret)The A Position has the First finger on the Root (A string 3rd Fret)

The A Position has three notes in the fifth fret played with the THIRD FingerThe G Position has three notes in the fifth fret played with the FIRST Finger

So you see each of the chord Positions has part of the other Chord Positions

Now the only thing to do is to flesh out the skeleton with scales.

You guessed it. There are 5 basic Major Scale Forms.

All of these are C Major Chords

It is very important that you learn these chord Forms and Positions.

Remember there are only 5 chord Forms to remember

Lets talk about how the chords link together.

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The E Position plays the 8th Fret with the 1st Finger Barred

The G Position plays the 8TH F ret with the 4th Finger (Root)

10th Fret with the 4th Finger (On the D String)The E Position plays the

10th Fret with the 2nd Finger (On D string)The D Position plays the



Notes:

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By Now we already know where part of each scale is because each chord is made up of the 1, 3, 5 or the Do Mi Sol of each scale.

The Major Scale : Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Ti Do 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Key of C: C D E F G A B C

Note the 8=1 Just up an octave.Note: Between each note is either a:

• Half step (One Fret) or • Whole Step (Two Frets)

Notice how above I placed the 3 and 4 closer together and the 7 and 8Look at the piano graphic below notice the black keys

You will notice there is no black key between the B and C and Between the E and F.

In the C Major Scale:C D E F G A B C1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

I want you to visualize the Major Scale for a moment.

Think Spacially. Think how the 3 and 4 are closer together.

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Now lets look at the 5 Major Scale forms:Color Code: Root is Red – Colors are grouped by Octave.

C Major (Ionian)

D Major (Ionian)

That is sure a lot of notes you must be saying to yourself. Lets break it down.THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT:

- When discussing notes/sounds I will use “Scale” or “Chord” or “Note”- When discussing position or fingering I will use “Form” or “Position”- Read this a couple of times and make sure you understand.- So when I say play the D “Chord” in the G “Form” I mean the notes making The D chord played at the 10th Fret ***- I will also say play the D “Scale” in the G “Position. This means the Notes in the D Scale played between the 7th and 10th fret.

LETS GET STARTED ON SCALE POSITIONS

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The C ”Form” of the D Major “Scale”

The first Thing to note is the C Chord Form.

Can you play a D Bar chord using the C Form

Can you see the chord D F# A (1,3,5 or Do Mi Sol of the scale)?

Now we just need to add the 2,4,6 and 7 ( Re, Fa, La and Ti)

Find the EFind the GFind the BFind the C#

Now how do we finger the scale

Starting on the A String:Put your first finger on the 2nd fretPut your second finger on the 3rd fretPut your Third finger on the 4th fretPut your Fourth finger on the 5th fret

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(frets)Sub-script: Fingers

• The First note (D) is played with the 4th finger (5th fret) on the A string

• The Second note (E) is played with the 1st finger (2nd fret) on the D string

• The Third note (F#) is played with the 3rd finger (4th fret) on the D string

• The Fourth note (G) is played with the 4th finger (5th fret) on the D string

• The Fifth note (A) is played with the 1st finger (2nd fret) on the G string

• The Sixth note (B) is played with the 3rd finger (4th fret) on the G string

• The Seventh note(C#) is played with the 1st finger (2nd fret) on the B string

Which will bring us back to Do a deer…..

• The Eighth note (D) is played with the 2nd finger (3rd fret) on the B string

E|-----------------------------B|--------------------2--3-----G|--------------2--4-----------D|-----2--4--5-----------------A|--5--------------------------E|----------------------------- 4 1 3 4 1 3 1 2 (fingers)



GREAT!! YOU KNOW THE D “SCALE” IN THE C “POSITION”

NOW here is a great exercise to make you a Pro at this scale”

Do this very slowly at first until you get it perfect.

Simply tap each note (Forget using your picking hand!) 8 times up the scale Do Do Do Do Do Do Do Do Re Re Re Re Re Re Re Re Mi Mi Mi Mi Mi Mi Mi Mi Fa Fa Fa Fa Fa Fa Fa Fa So So So So So So So So La La La La La La La La Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti Ti

You get the idea.Now go back down the scale tapping 8 times each.

You should feel pretty much in control of this after doing this simple exercise a few times.

A great resource for exercises that will help you conquer the Fretboard is

The Amazing Guitar Plan. Just follow this link:http://www.guitar5day.com Amazing Guitar 2.0

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The A ”Form” of the D Major “Scale”

The first Thing to note is the A Chord Form.

Can you play a D Bar chord using the A Form?

Can you see the chord D A D F# (1, 5, 1, 3 or Do Sol Do Mi of the scale)Now we just need to add the 2, 4, 6 and 7 ( Re, Fa, La and Ti)?



Starting on the A String:Put your First finger on the 5th fretPut your Second finger on the 6th fretPut your Third finger on the 7th fretPut your Fourth finger on the 8th fret

• The First note (D) is played with the 2nd finger (5th fret) on the A string

• The Second note (E) is played with the 4th finger (7th fret) on the A string

• The Third note (F#)is played with the 1st finger (4th fret) on the D string

• The Fourth note (G) is played with the 2nd finger (5th fret) on the D string

• The Fifth note (A) is played with the 4th finger (7th fret) on the D string

• The Sixth note (B) is played with the 1st finger (4th fret) on the G string

• The Seventh note(C#)is played with the 3rd finger (6th fret) on the G string


• The Eighth note (D) is played with the 4th finger (7th fret) on the G string

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E|-----------------------------B|-----------------------------G|-----------------4--6--7-----D|--------4--5--7--------------A|--5--7-----------------------E|----------------------------- 2 4 1 2 4 1 3 4 (fingers)



Notes:

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The G ”Form” of the D Major “Scale”

The first Thing to note is the G Chord Form.

Can you play a D Bar chord using the G Form?Can you see the chord D F# A D (1, 3, 5, 1, or Do Mi Sol Do of the scale)Now we just need to add the 2, 4, 6 and 7 ( Re, Fa, La and Ti)



Starting on the E String:Put your First finger on the 5th fretPut your Second finger on the 6th fretPut your Third finger on the 7th fretPut your Fourth finger on the 8th fret

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E|-----------------------------------------7--9--10-----B|-------------------------------7--8--10---------------G|----------------------6--7--9-------------------------D|----------------7--9----------------------------------A|------7--9--10----------------------------------------E|--10-------------------------------------------------- 4 1 3 4 1 3 1 2 4 1 2 4 1 3 4 (fingers)



• The First note (D) is played with the 4th finger (10th fret) on the E string

• The Second note (E) is played with the 1st finger (7th fret) on the A string

• The Third note (F#) is played with the 3rd finger (9th fret) on the A string

• The Fourth note (G) is played with the 4th finger (10th fret) on the A string

• The Fifth note (A) is played with the 1st finger (7th fret) on the D string

• The Sixth note (B) is played with the 3rd finger (9th fret) on the D string

***Note: This is different***• To play the next note you will slide your hand down one fret to the 6th Fret

• The Seventh note (C#) is played with the 1st finger (6th fret) on the G string


• The Eighth note (D) is played with the 2nd finger (7th fret) on the G string

WOW!! We have covered 3 of the 5 Major Forms/Positions!!!



The E ”Form” of the D Major “Scale”

The first Thing to note is the E Chord Form.

Can you play a D Bar chord using the E Form?

Can you see the chord D A D F# (1, 5, 1, 3, or Do Sol Do Mi of the scale)Now we just need to add the 2, 4, 6 and 7 ( Re, Fa, La and Ti)

Find the EFind the F# (The first F3 is not used in the chord)Find the GFind the BFind the C#

Now how do we finger the scale?

Starting on the E String:Put your First finger on the 9th fretPut your Second finger on the 10th fretPut your Third finger on the 11th fretPut your Fourth finger on the 12th fret

The E Form is probably the form most people start with. When you learn the Basic Blues scale or Pentatonic Minor the notes are part of the E Position.

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E|---------------------------------------------------9--10-----B|-------------------------------------------10--12------------G|--------------------------------9--11--12--------------------D|---------------------9--11--12-------------------------------A|----------9--10--12------------------------------------------E|--10--12----------------------------------------------------- 2 4 1 2 4 1 3 4 1 3 4 2 4 1 2 (fingers)



• The First note (D) is played with the 2nd finger (10th fret) on the E string

• The Second note (E) is played with the 4th finger (12th fret) on the E string

• The Third note (F#) is played with the 1st finger (9th fret) on the A string

• The Fourth note (G) is played with the 2nd finger (10th fret) on the A string

• The Fifth note (A) is played with the 4th finger (12th fret) on the A string

• The Sixth note (B) is played with the 1st finger (9th fret) on the D string

• The Seventh note (C#) is played with the 3rd finger (11th fret) on the D string

• Which will bring us back to Do a deer…..• The Eighth note (D) is played with the 4th finger ( 12th fret) on the D string

Now Lets Look at the second Octave:

• The First note (D) is played with the 4th finger (12th fret) on the D string (8th

note of 1st Octave)

• The Second note (E) is played with the 1st finger (9th fret) on the G string

• The Third note (F#) is played with the 3rd finger (11th fret) on the G string

• The Fourth note (G) is played with the 4th finger (12th fret) on the G string

• The Fifth note (A) is played with the 2nd finger (10th fret) on the B string

• The Sixth note (B) is played with the 4th finger (12th fret) on the B string

• The Seventh note(C#) is played with the 1st finger (9th fret) on the High E string


• The Eighth note (D) is played with the 2nd finger (10th fret) on the High E string

This Form is probably the most popular.

Then Why didn’t you teach this one first?

I don’t like to teach this one first because so many people only learn this form and get stuck and never progress. Also E-D-C-A-G isn’t a word.

We are almost Finished!! We have covered 4 of the 5 Major Forms/Positions!!!

Notes:

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The D ”Form” of the D Major “Scale”

• The First note (D) is played with the 2nd finger (12th fret) on the D string

• The Second note (E) is played with the 1st finger (14th fret) on the D string

• The Third note (F#)is played with the 1st finger (11th fret) on the G string

• The Fourth note (G) is played with the 2nd finger (12th fret) on the G string

• The Fifth note (A) is played with the 4th finger (14th fret) on the G string

The D Form is probably the least used form but the D Form really holds the key to connecting the entire fret board together.

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(frets)

Sub-script: Fingers

E|-------------------------------------B|----------------------12--14--15-----G|----------11--12--14-----------------D|--12--14-----------------------------A|-------------------------------------E|-------------------------------------

2 4 1 2 4 1 3 4 (fingers)



Now you shift up 1 Fret• The Sixth note (B) is played with the 1st finger (12th fret) on the B string• The Seventh note (C#)is played with the 3rd finger (14th fret) on the B string which will bring us back to Do a deer…..• The Eighth note (D) is played with the 2nd finger (15th fret) on the B string

And You can add the first three notes of the next octave:

•The Second note (E) is played with the 1st finger (12th fret) on the High E string•The Third note (F#) is played with the 3rd finger (14th fret) on the High E String•The Fourth note (G) is played with the 4th finger (15th fret) on the High E String.

You have done it!! If you study these 5 Forms and scale Positions you will have complete access To the Fret Board.

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Chapter 5: Pentatonic Tabs

Chapter 5: Pentatonic Tabs(i) Major Pentatonic Tabs:

The C ”Form” of the D Major Pentatonic “Scale”

The A ”Form” of the D Major Pentatonic “Scale”

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The G ”Form” of the D Major Pentatonic “Scale”

The D ”Form” of the D Major Pentatonic “Scale”

The E ”Form” of the D Major Pentatonic “Scale”

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(i) Minor Pentatonic Tabs:

The C ”Form” of the D Minor Pentatonic “Scale”

The A ”Form” of the D Minor Pentatonic “Scale”

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The G ”Form” of the D Minor Pentatonic “Scale”

The D ”Form” of the D Minor Pentatonic “Scale”

The E ”Form” of the D Minor Pentatonic “Scale”

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Chapter 6: The Modes


I. Instruction

What are modes?

You hear a lot of talk about Modes in music and they seem mysterious at first but once you learn what they are and how to use them they add a whole level of texture to your music.

The simplest description of modes would be the scales insidethe major scale.

Let me demonstrate:The major scale has 8 notes Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 (or 1)

To play a mode you simply play from a number to the same numberan octave higher.

An example the Dorian mode: Re Mi Fa So La ti Do Re 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 2

Lets take the Key of C C D E F G A B c

The Dorian mode (Key of C) D E F G A B C DSo what does that Do?

(Stay with me here)

Well the next step in understanding modes is to know the relationship of each note to the Tonic or first note.

In the major scale it goes like this:

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Do 1 - TonicRe 2 - Major 2nd - 1 Whole step (2 frets)Mi 3 - Major 3rd - 2 Whole steps (4 frets)Fa 4 - Major 4th - 2 Whole steps plus one half step (5 frets)So 5 - Major 5th - 3 Whole steps plus one half step (7 frets)La 6 - Major 6th - 4 Whole steps plus one half step (9 frets)Ti 7 - Major 7th - 5 Whole steps plus one half step (11 frets)Do 8 - Octave 6 Whole steps (12 Frets)

The relationship between the notes is also important:

Remember a whole step is 2 frets. A half step is 1 fret

Key of C

C D E F G A B C Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do Whole Whole 1/2 Whole Whole Whole 1/2

If you have access to a Piano note the White and black keys the black keys are in sets of 2-two and threes.

Now MODES:

The names of the modes: Ionian From 1 to 1 AKA Major Dorian From 2 to 2 Phrygian From 3 to 3 Lydian From 4 to 4 Mixolydian From 5 to 5 Aeolian From 6 to 6 AKA Natural Minor Locrian From 7 to 7

Note: Ionian, Lydian and Mixolydian are Major Modes because the 3rd is major Dorian, Phrygian and Aeolian are Minor because the 3rd is minor Locrian is Diminished minor - Scarey! because the 3rd is minor and the 5th is diminished

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Chapter 6: The ModesIn the key of C: Comments

Ionian: C · D · E · F · G · A · B · C MajorDorian: D · E ·F G A B C · D Minor 3rd - Major 6thPhrygian: E · F · G · A · B · C · D · E Flat 2ndLydian: F · G · A · B · C · D · E · F Sharp 4thMixolydian: G · A · B · C · D · E · F · G Flat 7thAeolian: A · B · C D · E · F · G A Natural MinorLocrian: B · C · D · E · F · G · A · B Diminished 5th

When to use different modes

Ionian: Sweet Pop soundDorian: Latin soundPhrygian: More Latin SoundLydian: Major JazzMixolydian: Major BluesAeolian: Minor sound (sad)Locrian: Mysterious

I hope this book has helped your understanding of the Guitar FretboardScales / chord relationships and the major modes.

Keep working on these concepts until they are firmly grasped.

Before you know it these concepts will start popping up in songs when you play them.

On the next page I have listed some additional resources to help your guitar playing.

Please be my guest at the Amazing Guitar Community Forum:http://www.guitar5day.com/community3

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Additional Resources:

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Tony Alfano shows exactly how to play the classic rock Riffs.http://www.guitar5day.com/gleads.html

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Documents

The Ultimate Fretboard Guide - Guitar5day.comThe Ultimate Fretboard Guide Chapter 1: The 5 Basic Chord Forms The guitar when tuned to standard (this is the most basic) tuning: Thickest