Scale & fretboard explorer

How to use scale & fretboard explorer

1. Choose the song’s root note and the scale you want to explore.
2. Listen to the scale, or tap individual notes on the buttons and fretboard.
3. Follow the highlighted root notes to connect positions across the neck.

Learn the music behind it

• What is a major scale?
• What is a minor scale?
• What is a pentatonic scale?

A little more about this tool

Start with major or natural minor when the song has a clear major or minor key. Pentatonic scales use fewer notes and often offer a straightforward improvisation starting point. Blues adds an extra passing tone, while Dorian and Mixolydian give different modal colours. The fretboard uses standard guitar tuning with high E at the top. A scale is a palette: listen to the current chord and use tension notes deliberately rather than assuming every scale note fits equally well.

Does the fretboard support alternate tunings?

This explorer currently shows standard guitar tuning. Use the separate tuner for alternate tunings; the note buttons and scale playback work independently of guitar tuning.

Is it really free?

Yes. Use this tool without an account, subscription or download. Audio files and microphone input stay on your device. Browser format support varies; MP3 and WAV are good starting points.