Learn how to read and understand tablature (tabs) for guitar, an essential skill for playing songs and solos.

Understanding scale charts is essential for learning scales and improving lead guitar playing.

Each string follows the chromatic scale as you move up the frets.

Each string is like a chromatic scale as it moves up the frets.

Technically each string could be tuned to any note.

Lets look at the 5th string (from the bottom aka 2nd to top string) the A-String.
When you pluck the A string open you hear the note A because we tuned it to an A.
Think of the open string as the 0th fret, which for this example is the note A.

Now when we press down on the 1st fret and pick that string, we will hear one note up in the chromatic scale.
The next note up from A in the chromatic scale is A#, so the first fret of the A string will be an A#.

Then the 2nd fret will be the second note of the chromatic scale up from A which is B, and so on and so on.

Each string acts the same way. For example your top string is tuned to an E, so the 1st fret is F (because there's no E#) and the 2nd fret is F#.

The 12th fret on the guitar is the only fret that has the two dots instead of one. That is because it's an octave higher of each open string.

Since there are 12 notes in the chromatic scale, once we go up 12 frets we get back to the same note as the open string.

Here is an example of the A string and the notes associated with the frets of the A strign.

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Learn how to play the C Major Pentatonic scale by removing the 4th and 7th notes.

"Walking" the Scale

• Going up in pitch (index to pinky or index to ring)
• Keep the index finger down and add the next finger.
• 2 things happen at the same time:
1. You pick the string (index).
2. Simultaneously add your other finger (ring/pinky).
• When changing strings (pinky/ring to index)
• Three things happen at the same time:
1. You pick the string.
2. You lift the pinky (or ring finger).
3. You add the index finger.

• Going down in pitch (Start with both fingers down)
• Pick the string with your pinky/ring finger down.
• Next note: Pinky/ring to index
1. You pick the string (where your pinky/ring is down).
2. Simultaneously take the pinky/ring off.
• When changing strings (index to pinky/ring)
• Three things happen at the same time:
1. You pick the string.
2. You drop the pinky/ring finger.
3. You lift the index finger.

Practice walking the scale on beat.

Learn the correct wrist positioning to improve your technique and avoid strain.