Chromatic Scale, Sharps and Flats
The chromatic scale is a series of notes that are separated by one semi-tone (i.e. 1 fret).
The new notes in between are called sharps and flats.
# indicates a sharp, which raises the note by one semitone (1 fret).
b indicates a flat which lowers the note by one semitone (1 fret).
Notes learnt so far
New notes with sharps and flats
The 5th fret of the E string (A note) is the same note as the open A string.
The 5th fret of the A string (D note) is the same note as the open D string.
The 5th fret of the D string (G note) is the same note as the open G string.
These note positions are important to remember because they are the basis for tuning your bass guitar to itself. (See Appendix).
When a sharp or flat note is written on a music stave the symbol (# or b) is placed before the note.
e.g. B flat (Bb)
F sharp (F#) G flat (Gb)
These two notes have the same position on the fretboard but have different names. In the example on the left both F# and Gb are used.
In this example both F notes are sharpened. This is because of the rule that a sharp (or flat), when placed before a note, affects the same note if it reoccurs in the remainder of that bar. Play this example based around the second fret.
Lick 34 is based around the first fret and uses the Gb note on the second fret of the E string.
