If you watched the Introduction to Notes and Notes on the Guitar videos, you’ll remember we only use 12 notes in Western Music. A Chromatic Scale uses all of these notes to produce an ascending or descending effect.
These scales are easy to visualize. We just need to play up or down from a given note making sure to hit EVERY fret on the way to the octave. Remember each fret is a Half Step, so we get a formula that looks like this:
1h2h3h4h5h6h7h8h9h10h11h12h1
* If you are still learning the note names on the neck, here is a great opportunity to practice. Say each note name as you play through the scale. Let’s start on the letter A. * Remember- when we count up or ascend, we use the sharps.
When we count down or descend, we use the flats.
But playing the chromatic scale up one string is usually impractical. We guitarists prefer to consolidate our fingerings. If we move the higher notes to other strings, we can come up with a more “compact” version of the Chromatic scale that lets us cover two octaves.
We now have the formula of a two octave Chromatic Scale reduced to a simple shape:
The letter you start on names the Chromatic scale. Since we just started the scale on A, we played an A Chromatic Scale. If you wanted to play a B Chromatic Scale, simply start the Chromatic Scale shape on the letter B.
Since there are 12 different notes that you can start this pattern on, theoretically there should be 12 different Chromatic scales. Try playing them all and practice saying the note names.
When you feel comfortable with the shape, try playing the examples on the Chromatic Scale Exercises video.
Guitarists are always looking for new ways to expand their creativity and find new sounds on their instrument. A very simple way to accomplish this is to change the tuning of the guitar.
The most common introduction to this practice would be to tune all the strings evenly up or down.
If we lower each string by 1/2 step, we would have: Eb(6th) Ab(5th) Db(4th) Gb(3rd) Bb(2nd) Eb(1st).
We could still use any shape/scale/chord, but now they are named 1/2 step lower. Think of it this way: if you are in standard tuning, a C is a C. But if we detune a half-step, that C chord has effectively dropped down, too, making your C chord sound like a B chord (1/2 step lower than the original name). Your G chord is now a F# chord, A would be a G#, etc.
Essentially, you are playing familiar shapes and fingerings, but with the sounds lower than standard. They still retain the same relationship to each other.
You can also try tuning a WHOLE step down. Your strings would now be: D(6th) G(5th) C(4th) F(3rd) A(2nd) D(1st). This is the same idea as above except your shape actually sounds a whole step lower. For example, if you are playing a G chord it is in reality an F. An A would be a G, etc.
Can we also tune higher than standard? Sure…but not much.
It’s possible to raise your strings a half-step making: F(6th) A#(5th) D#(4th) G#(3rd) C(2nd) F(1st). Now every chord would sound a half-step higher than the shape you are playing. An E would sound like an F and a G would sound like a G#. Theoretically you could tune higher, but do so at your own risk.
Tuning higher adds undue stress on your instrument, especially acoustics. It’s much more common to use a CAPO than it is to tune UP. You can find out more by checking out the Using a Capo page.
All of the examples above keep the relationships between the strings even. But it’s also possible to tune the guitar to change these relationships. This can be as simple as altering one string or tuning every string differently!
Probably the most common alteration is called Drop D Tuning. This tuning expands the range of the guitar by effectively giving us 2 extra notes below the Low E String. We just tune the Low E string DOWN to D. Now your tuning should be: D(6th) A(5th) D(4th) G(3rd) B(2nd) E(1st). Remember that your 6th string is the only one that’s been altered.This tuning is extremely popular in new pop, rock and metal. It sounds more aggressive and also allows one finger Power Chords. (Most common metal riffs would be a bit more difficult if you tried to play the conventional two finger version).
*** Many heavier bands use the idea of Drop D Tuning along with tuning a 1/2 step or whole step down. Remember that the term “Drop D” now is incorrect-but it helps other players to know that their 4th and 6th string should be tuned to the same letter. Example:
1/2 step down/drop D tuning would mean your guitar is now tuned to: Db(6th) Ab(5th) Db(4th) Gb(3rd) Bb(2nd) Eb(1st).
Whole step down/drop D tuning would mean your guitar is now tuned to: C(6th) G(5th) C(4th) F(3rd) A(2nd) D(1st).
You can experiment with variations on this idea, and if you like to consistently tune low, you might consider having your guitar set up for this tuning using heavier gauge strings.
