Guitar Chromatic Scale

Let's jump straight into the Guitar Chromatic Scale exercises. You will gain mastery of this scale anywhere on your fret board.

EXERCISE 1.

Aim: to play the chromatic scale from low E (the thick E string) to E.

Start on the open E (the "thick" E string) (you play this open of course - no fingering necessary) and go all the way up, fret by fret, that same string, until you reach the next E
which is at the centre of the string = 12th fret.
We only illustrate the first few positions as the rest is obvious.
Use whichever finger(s) you like on the frets. Just produce the notes.

Observation.
It is not easy to play the above quickly owing to the distance the left hand has to move.

EXERCISE 2.

Aim: to play the chromatic scale from low E (the thick E string) to E this time using the E, A and D strings.

Again we begin on the low E string.
The fingering is shown below each fret diagram, 4 being your little finger.

Practice.
Use fingering shown.
Start slow with perfect sounding (no buzzes, or muffled notes).
Increase speed of playing.

Note: as for all the exercises practice the chromatic scales up and down.

Observation.
This time with practice a good speed can be reached.
This is because all the fret positions are closer to hand.
This is a principle that is very valuable for your future playing of fast chord changes, and fast single-note runs.
The closer everything is to hand the easier it becomes.

EXERCISE 3.

Aim: as for Exercise 2, but F to F. We are going to derive a pattern.

Practice.
Use fingering shown. For the last 3 notes you may use 1 2 3 or 1 1 2 if you are going to continue your scale further.
Start slow with perfect sounding (no buzzes, or muffled notes).
Increase speed of playing.

Observation.
We use no open strings. This is the basis for a pattern which you can use in many places on the guitar fretboard.

Question.
If those are all the notes, then where are the "flats", like B flat ( Bb ) ?

Answer.
A# is the same note as Bb
C# is the same note as Db
D# is the same note as Eb
F# is the same note as Gb
G# is the same note as Ab
There is no note between B and C.
There is no note between E and F.
The reason for all the above is that it is just the way the major scale was invented.

EXERCISE 4.

Aim: to consolidate what you have learned.

Practice.
Use the chromatic pattern in Ex. 3 and play the scale beginning on various fret positions on the low E string.

EXERCISE 5.

Aim: to try the pattern starting on the A string.

Practice.
Use the chromatic pattern in Ex. 3 and play the scale beginning on various fret positions on the  A string (the one next to the low E string).

Question (for you to answer)
Why doesn't this pattern work when you start on the next string, D ? Try it if you do not know the answer to this.

created 11 jul 05 updated 13 jul 05