The Ultimate Fretboard

Guide

Andrew Koblick

Table of Contents

1. The 5 Basic Chord Forms

2. The Major scales of the 5 Basic Chord Forms

3. Linking the 5 Major Chord Forms

4. Fleshing out the Skeleton

5. The Modes

The 5 Major Chord Forms:

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

E (Thickest String)
A
D
G
B
E (Thinnest String)

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:

Basic Major Chords

Major Chords

C

6 5 4 3 2 1
______o___o
|_|_|_|_o_|
|_|_o_|_|_|
|_o_|_|_|_|
|_|_|_|_|_|
|_|_|_|_|_|

A

6 5 4 3 2 1
__o_______o
|_|_|_|_|_|
|_|_o_o_o_|
|_|_|_|_|_|
|_|_|_|_|_|
|_|_|_|_|_|

6 5 4 3 2 1

____o_o_o__
|_|_|_|_|_|
|_o_|_|_|_|
o_|_|_|_|_o
|_|_|_|_|_|
|_|_|_|_|_|

6 5 4 3 2 1

o_______o_o
|_|_|_o_|_|
|_o_o_|_|_|
|_|_|_|_|_|
|_|_|_|_|_|
|_|_|_|_|_|

6 5 4 3 2 1

x___o______
|_|_|_|_|_|
|_|_|_o_|_o
|_|_|_|_o_|
|_|_|_|_|_|
|_|_|_|_|_|

C Major

A Major

G Major

E Major

D Major

These are the Chord Forms that will out line the Fretboard.

Now Lets put them together on the Fretboard for the Key of C

At the Open Fret We see the C Form Position and the A Form Position

(Note the A form is usally a Bar Chord)

At the 8

Fret we See the G Form Position and the E Form Position

And Finally at the 10

Fret the D Position

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.
KEY OF C – C Major Chord

The C Position has the third finger on the Root (A string 3

Fret)

The A Position has the First finger on the Root (A string 3

Fret)

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

The G Position plays the 8

Fret with the 4

Finger (Root)

The E Position plays the 8

Fret with the 1

Finger (Barred)

The E Position plays the 10

Fret with the 4

Finger (On the D String)

The D Position plays the 10

Fret with the 1

Finger (On the D string)

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

NOTES:

The Notes of the Scales

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 8

Look 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 C
1 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.

Now lets look at the 5 Major Scale forms:

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 10

Fret ***

I will also say play the D “Scale” in the G “Position. This means the Notes in
the D Scale played between the 7

and 10

fret.

LETS GET STARTED ON SCALE POSITIONS

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 E
Find the G
Find the B
Find the C#

Now how do we finger the scale

Starting on the A String:
Put your first finger on the 2

fret

Put your second finger on the 3rd fret
Put your Third finger on the 4th fret
Put your Fourth finger on the 5th fret

•

The First note (D) is played with the 4th finger (5

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 (4

fret) on the D string

•

The Fourth note (G) is played with the 4th finger (5

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 (4

fret) on the G string

•

The Seventh note (D) is played with the 1st finger (2

fret) on the B string

•

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

•

The Eighth note (D) is played with the 2nd finger (

fret) on the B string

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

The A ”Form” of the D Major “Scale”

The first Thing to note is the A Chord Form. D A D F#

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)

Find the E
Find the G
Find the B
Find the C#

Now how do we finger the scale

Starting on the A String:
Put your First finger on the 5

fret

Put your Second finger on the 6th fret
Put your Third finger on the 7th fret
Put your Fourth finger on the 8th fret

•

The First note (D) is played with the 2nd finger (5

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 (4

fret) on the D string

•

The Fourth note (G) is played with the 2nd finger (5

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 (4

fret) on the G string

•

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

•

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

•

The Eighth note (D) is played with the 4th finger (

7th fret) on the G string

NOTES

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The G ”Form” of the D Major “Scale”

The first Thing to note is the G Chord Form. D F# A D

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)

Find the E
Find the G
Find the B
Find the C#

Now how do we finger the scale

Starting on the E String:
Put your First finger on the 5

fret

Put your Second finger on the 6th fret
Put your Third finger on the 7th fret
Put your Fourth finger on the 8th fret

•

The First note (D) is played with the 4th finger (10

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 (9

fret) on the A string

•

The Fourth note (G) is played with the 4th finger (10

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 (9

fret) on the D string

•

***Note: This is different***

•

To play the next note you will slide your hand down one fret to the 6

Fret

•

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

•

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

•

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!!!

Remember C-A-G- E- D.

The E ”Form” of the D Major “Scale”

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.

The first Thing to note is the E Chord Form. D A D F#

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 E
Find the F# (The first F3 is not used in the chord)
Find the G
Find the B
Find the C#

Now how do we finger the scale?

Starting on the E String:
Put your First finger on the 9

fret

Put your Second finger on the 10th fret
Put your Third finger on the 11th fret
Put your Fourth finger on the 12th fret

Continued on next page

The E ”Form” of the D Major “Scale”

continued

•

The First note (D) is played with the 2nd finger (10

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 (9

fret) on the A string

•

The Fourth note (G) is played with the 2nd finger (10

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 (9

fret) on the D string

•

The Seventh note (C#) is played with the 3rd finger (6th 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

•

note of 1

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 (11

fret) on the G string

•

The Fourth note (G) is played with the 4th finger (12

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 (12

fret) on the B string

•

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

•

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

•

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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Remember C-A-G- E- D.

The D ”Form” of the D Major “Scale”

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

Notice the F# A and D are part of the C Form Also

•

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 (11

fret) on the G string

•

The Fourth note (G) is played with the 2nd finger (12

fret) on the G string

•

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

•

Now you shift up 1 Fret

•

The Sixth note (B) is played with the 1st finger (12

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 (14

fret) on the High E String

•

The Fourth note (G) is played with the 4th finger (15

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.

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 inside
the 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 number
an 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 D

So 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:

Do 1 - Tonic
Re 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 2two 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

In the key of C: Comments

Ionian: C · D · E · F · G · A · B · C Major

Dorian: D · E · F · G · A · B · C · D Minor 3rd - Major 6th

Phrygian: E · F · G · A · B · C · D · E Flat 2nd

Lydian: F · G · A · B · C · D · E · F Sharp 4th

Mixolydian: G · A · B · C · D · E · F · G Flat 7th

Aeolian: A · B · C · D · E · F · G · A Natural Minor

Locrian: B · C · D · E · F · G · A · B Diminished 5th

When to use different modes

Ionian: Sweet Pop sound
Dorian: Latin sound
Phrygian: More Latin Sound
Lydian: Major Jazz
Mixolydian: Major Blues
Aeolian: Minor sound (sad)
Locrian: Mysterious