Fretboard
The Verified Guitar Fretboard: See Notes in Harmonic Context
The fretboard follows a repeatable pitch system: each string starts from an open note and every fret raises it by one semitone. GuitarHarmonyLab uses that relationship to display notes, chord tones and scale material for the selected tuning and fretboard zone.
Why “verified”
Pitch locations calculated from the active tuning
The displayed note name is recalculated from the open-string pitch and fret number whenever the tuning changes. “Verified” describes this tuning-aware note map; suggested positions and fingerings remain separate musical material that the guitarist or teacher should review.
Why the fretboard feels so hard
The same note appears in several places, shapes repeat at different frets, and most diagrams show one isolated scale with no context. So players memorise boxes without ever understanding how they connect. The neck feels like a wall of dots instead of a logical system.
What a verified fretboard shows
Every note, named
See note names across the selected six- or seven-string setup instead of working only with anonymous dots.
Scale shapes that connect
Visualise scale notes in a selected zone, then compare neighbouring positions on the neck.
Chord tones highlighted
Locate the chord tones of the selected chord and compare nearby targets.
Intervals you can read
Understand why a shape works by seeing thirds, fifths and sevenths in place.
Notes in harmonic context
A static scale chart does not by itself explain the role of a note over each chord. In GuitarHarmonyLab, you can select the harmony being studied and compare its chord tones, guide tones or scale notes on the fretboard. This supports the same relationship-based work described in Berklee’s guide to voice leading for guitar.
Open tunings, 7 strings and left-handed mode
The note map is generated from the selected string pitches rather than copied from one fixed standard-tuning chart. The available setups are explicit, and six-string alternative tunings should not be confused with the current seven-string option.
6 and 7 strings
Six-string mode supports the listed tuning presets. Seven-string mode currently uses Standard Low B: B–E–A–D–G–B–E.
Open tunings
Open G, Open D, Open C, Open E and Open A are available in six-string mode. DADGAD is also included as a modal tuning.
Drop and alternate
Drop D, Drop C, Drop B, half-step down and whole-step down are included. Low Drop G is explicitly marked experimental.
Left-handed layout
The left-handed option mirrors the horizontal layout while preserving the sounding notes and readable labels.
These choices let a player view the progression in a supported setup that matches the instrument being used. Custom or unsupported seven-string tunings should be checked separately.
A practical way to learn the neck
Choose one progression, one fretboard zone and one note role at a time: roots first, then thirds, fifths or guide tones. Name each note as you play it and test it against the chord. This creates a repeatable learning task without promising that a visual map replaces listening or physical practice. Pair it with Learn Guitar Harmony Online.
Explore your own progression
Enter a progression, select the supported guitar setup and inspect its chord, scale and target-note views. Compare what you see with the notes you hear and play. For the complete workflow, start with What Is GuitarHarmonyLab?
Free Starter
Inspect your progression on the neck
Start with Free Starter and explore the notes of a progression in a supported tuning and layout.