guitar-tuning.co.uk

The Circle of Notes

  1. CAGED System

  2. Circle of Notes

  3. Keys Signitures

  4. Scales

  5. Pentatonic Scales

  6. Chords

FIND CHORDS and SCALES in any Tuning

To find notes for a chord or scale in a particular tuning is all about knowing the right intervals to apply. The circle of notes gives the order of notes on the fretboard of a guitar. This order will stay consistent though the position on the fretboard may move depending on the tuning.

Work out Intervals

guitar-tuning

Find Chords and Scales

Chord and Scale Intervals.

Chord Abreviation Interval
Major (Maj) 0,4,7
Minor (Min) 0,3,7
Major Seventh (Maj7) 0,4,7,11
Dominant Seventh (7th) 0,4,7,10
Minor Seventh (min7) 0,3,7,10
Major Sixth (maj6) 0,4,7,9
Major Ninth (maj9) 0,4,7,11,14
Dominant Ninth (9) 0,4,7,10,14
Sixth add ninth (6+9) 0,4,7,9,14
Minor Sixth (min6) 0,3,7,9
Minor Ninth (Min9) 0,3,7,10,14
Minor 7 Flat Five (m7b5) 0,3,6,10
Seven Flat Nine (7b9) 0,4,7,10,13
Seven Sharp Nine (7#9) 0,4,7,10,15
Diminished (dim) 0,3,6
Diminished Seventh (dim7) 0,3,6,9
Augmented (aug) 0,4,8
Augmented Seventh (aug7) 0,4,8,10
Suspended Forth (sus4) 0,5,7
7 Suspended Forth (7sus4) 0,5,7,10
Suspended Second (sus2) 0,2,7
Scale Interval
Major 0,2,4,5,7,9,11
Minor 0,2,3,5,7,8,10
Harmonic Minor 0,2,3,5,7,8,11
Pentatonic Major 0,2,4,7,9
Pentatonic Minor 0,3,5,7,10

How to Use the circle

Using the Circle of Notes

By firstly applying the right intereval relationship, for a particular chord or scale, and counting round the circle of notes (where 0, represents the root note). A chord or scales notes can be identified and then found on the guitar neck.

Each chord type (major, minor, 7th, ect) is identified by a collection of intervals. In the Chord Intervals chart the most regular chord types and respective intervals are listed. Like chords, scales are defined by their collective intervals, in the Scales Intervals chart some of the more regular scales intervals are shown.

It's Easy once you get it

Find new tunings and create new chord shapes on the fretboard. Sometimes you'll be rewarded when you hit that magic set of notes creating a completely new sounding chord. Who knows where that might take your creativity? There are no limits in the tuning zone.

Many great guitarists' have looked at open or alternate tunings to get a fresh sound. Different tunings can stimulate different tonal charactoristics and expressions.