The Chromatic Scale and the Major Chords

In this section you can learn how to find any major chord using the chromatic scale

and the 3 major chord formations on the banjo.

The Chromatic Scale:

Using the 3rd String  as a reference point,

I have written in the notes of the Chromatic scale on the fingerboard below.

G

(the open 3rd string)

Fret >

1

G#

 

 

For our purposes we use sharps and flats interchangeably.

2

A

 

 

Therefore

A# = B flat.

3

A#

 

 

G# = A flat

4

B

 

 

C# = D flat

5

C

 

 

and so on.

6

 

C#

 

 

7

 

D

 

 

8

 

D#

 

 

9

 

E

 

 

10

 

F

 

 

11

 

F#

 

 

12

 

G

 

 

We'll get into more detail on chords later but for now, if you can remember

 the chord shapes below and the chromatic scale above you can find

any major chord just by repositioning the chord shape on the neck.

String >

5

4

3

2

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fret # >

1

 

I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

M

 

 

I

 

 

I

I

I

I

3

R

 

 

P

 

M

 

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

R

 

 

P

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

F-Shape Chord

D-Shape Chord

Bar-Shape Chord

"F" at this position

"D" at this position

"A" at this positon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

I

 

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

M

 

 

R

 

 

 

3

 

I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

M

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

R

 

 

P

 

 

 

I

I

I

I

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"G" at this position

"C" at this position

"C" at this position

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

I

 

 

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

 

M

 

 

 

 

6

 

 

I

 

R

 

 

P

 

 

 

 

7

 

M

 

 

 

 

 

 

I

I

I

I

8

R

 

 

P

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"C" at this position

"E" at this position

"D" at this position