An essential tool for serious guitarists. This widget draws a wide range of scales on a virtual fretboard. The number of strings and frets can be customized.
It shows every note that can be played on a guitar that's in the given scale. It isn't a single octave. That's why there's an overwhelming amount of dots in the first 5 frets. That being said, I love it. Wish there were chords too though.
This is the best guitar widget I've seen so far. Everything works except the show random scale feature. I'm really surprised that you even got alternate tunings and custom number of strings set up. Very good work. Adding chords would make this widget an awesome tool. Keep working!
OK- everyone who gets it should prepare to roll their eyes, 'cuz I still don't. I just downloaded it and it was preset to "root note C", scale-type "major". I left all other adjustments alone. If this is showing me a C major scale , then why are there so MANY black dots? In the 5th fret alone, every string but G has a black dot- certainly doesn't sound like a scale no matter which order the notes are played in. I count 15 black dots just in the first five frets... are the black dots the notes that I'm supposed to play ? There seem to be way too many.When I switch the scale type to Dorian, for example, the dots change, but again there are way too many to make sense to me. I know some scales by ear and they are spread out way differently than this. Obviously I'm not getting it, which is weird 'cuz these 'tab' type visuals are usually easy to read, and I've been a guitar player for quite a few years. Sorry AnakMas, it looks very cool, but I can't make sense of it! Also, I see there's a random scale 'show' option, but when I click it nothing happens. Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks for your suggestions! - sound should be added somewhere in the future - a left handed version is a very good idea. Never thought of that actually! - I'll also write a help file to explain all the stuff that's going on.
the new version looks awesome.. and maybe it's only me thats a bit slow but I have some problems with "reading" the widget. I understand music theory and you've done all that real sweet. The problem for me mainly is that the notes aren't the actual scale, but randomly put in the correct key. maybe it's just me who prefers them in scales.. but would be cool if you could add that as a function
Very cool but maybe you could have it play actual tones just in case you are working on something and do not have a guitar in front of you, like when you are at work and pretending to work in a database and really working on a track.
OK, as simply as possible: The western major scale divides an octave (the distance between a doubling or halving of frequencies, E to higher/lower E, C to higher/lower C, etc.) into 12 parts: A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G# and back to A. (Notice there is no such thing as B# or E#, that one takes too long to explain, lol) Got it? Okay, assume you're starting at A, and want to play a major scale in that key. The formula for a major scale is in "steps". On a guitar, each fret is a "half-step". The major scale formula goes like this: whole-whole-half, whole-whole-whole-half. Example: A to B on the guitar is 2 frets, one "whole step", B to C# is another "whole step", C# to D is a "half step", etc. The A major scale would thus contain the notes A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G#, A. Eight notes total. Set the strings on the widget to correspond to the standard western guitar tuning of EADGBE, low (pitch) to high. Choose the scale key (A), and the type from the drop-down menu (major). You will see every note that falls within that major scale. You won't see, for example, aD# marked anywhere because it doesn't fall w/in the proper pattern. The other "modes" are simply variations
you're not really meant to 'read' it. if you have a guitar handy, set the widget to say, Major Scale of C, and you'll see the proper scale overlay on the screen. you'll notice that it looks exactly like your guitar.
if you're not big on guitar - or music theory in general - scales are families of 'related' notes. scales have a lot of use when it comes to making songs, and most guitarists learn scales for improvisational soloing. hitting random notes generally doesn't sound good, but, if you stay within a scale, it will usually sound a lot better.
the red dots are the root notes, as someone mentioned above. these are generally where you start and end your playing. if you're starting in C, you can load up that scale, start on a red dot, you can play any of the marked notes, end on a red, and again, it'll probably sound good.
Great concept and very complete. I also would love to see chords.
There seems to be no way to minimize it however. It takes up quite a bit of desktop space, and when I'm not using it I'd like to be able to make it more discreet.
By DarkEyesofSorrow, # Sep 10, 2008 10:55:24 PM
By kabat1, # Sep 6, 2008 11:19:40 AM
I'll update the Widget soon.
By AnakMas, # Jul 18, 2008 8:47:20 AM
thx
By zytorias, # Jun 7, 2008 8:41:02 AM
That being said, I love it. Wish there were chords too though.
By josell, # Aug 11, 2007 11:17:18 AM
Adding chords would make this widget an awesome tool. Keep working!
By Jadd, # Jun 14, 2007 8:52:18 AM
Also, I see there's a random scale 'show' option, but when I click it nothing happens. Any help would be appreciated!
By DDFerrari, # May 14, 2007 10:12:59 AM
- sound should be added somewhere in the future
- a left handed version is a very good idea. Never thought of that actually!
- I'll also write a help file to explain all the stuff that's going on.
By AnakMas, # Apr 20, 2007 0:31:59 AM
By c1rcl3, # Apr 5, 2007 11:57:44 PM
How about a lefty version?
By NSP, # Apr 4, 2007 9:02:30 PM
By thesexslave, # Apr 3, 2007 6:36:11 AM
Please send me your suggestions, comments, etc. Thanks!
By AnakMas, # Feb 27, 2007 8:51:14 AM
Okay, assume you're starting at A, and want to play a major scale in that key. The formula for a major scale is in "steps". On a guitar, each fret is a "half-step". The major scale formula goes like this: whole-whole-half, whole-whole-whole-half. Example: A to B on the guitar is 2 frets, one "whole step", B to C# is another "whole step", C# to D is a "half step", etc.
The A major scale would thus contain the notes A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G#, A. Eight notes total.
Set the strings on the widget to correspond to the standard western guitar tuning of EADGBE, low (pitch) to high. Choose the scale key (A), and the type from the drop-down menu (major). You will see every note that falls within that major scale. You won't see, for example, aD# marked anywhere because it doesn't fall w/in the proper pattern.
The other "modes" are simply variations
By Jokimoto, # Aug 28, 2006 9:20:50 PM
if you're not big on guitar - or music theory in general - scales are families of 'related' notes. scales have a lot of use when it comes to making songs, and most guitarists learn scales for improvisational soloing. hitting random notes generally doesn't sound good, but, if you stay within a scale, it will usually sound a lot better.
the red dots are the root notes, as someone mentioned above. these are generally where you start and end your playing. if you're starting in C, you can load up that scale, start on a red dot, you can play any of the marked notes, end on a red, and again, it'll probably sound good.
etc, etc.
By gbomber, # Aug 25, 2006 11:23:41 AM
By crashy, # Aug 4, 2006 9:28:47 AM
By LA_01, # Aug 3, 2006 7:03:57 PM
There seems to be no way to minimize it however. It takes up quite a bit of desktop space, and when I'm not using it I'd like to be able to make it more discreet.
Overall great start.
By EthnicMike, # Aug 1, 2006 10:24:38 PM
Best widget by far.
By meanmistermustard, # Jul 4, 2006 0:48:34 AM
By MADDSNIPER, # Jun 27, 2006 0:22:16 AM
thanx.
By strat89, # Jun 7, 2006 11:07:38 AM