So, if the lead singer asks for the key of C (or C major), you would use the 7 notes from the C major scale. Keys take their name from the root note of the scale. The C major scale for guitar, starting on the 5th string If we apply the major scale pattern, we get these notes: C D E F G A B. Major scales are diatonic scales with the following pattern: Whole step, Whole step, Half step, Whole step, Whole step, Whole step, Half step (or WWHWWWH). On a guitar fretboard, notes that are a whole step apart are two frets away from each other. They highlight 7 notes that create the most consonance (pleasant sounds).Īside from 2 half steps, diatonic scales contain 5 whole steps (also called tones or whole tones). Instead, most guitar keys are based on diatonic scales. Technically, you could write a guitar song based on a chromatic scale. However, it’s more common to stay in the same position on the guitar neck (ex: the 1st-4th frets) and play notes on different strings. For example, in the C chromatic scale, you could start on the 1st fret of the 2nd string and play every note to the 13th fret. What does this all mean for guitar? Well, for every half step, you slide up one fret on the fretboard. This is because they are enharmonic equivalents.They’re the same note, written differently depending on whether there’s another C or D note in the scale. You may be wondering why notes like C♯ and D♭are listed together. As you can see (in standard notation especially), there are no sharps or flats between E and F or B and C (Created using Flat). You can then play the scale an octave higher, starting with the next C. For example, the C chromatic scale is: C, C♯/D♭, D, D♯/E♭, E, F, F♯/G♭, G, G♯/A♭, A, A♯/B♭, B. Chromatic scales contain all 12 notes in a sequence.

Each note is a half step (also called a half tone or semitone) higher than the previous one. In Western music, there are 12 different notes you can play. This way, you’ll know exactly how they work together to form lead and rhythm guitar parts. But it’s still helpful to look at the individual notes that make up keys. If you’re a rhythm guitar player, chances are you’ll be working mainly with chords.

D standard notes on the guitar neck