Scale Finder – Guide

Scale Finder helps you learn where scale notes sit on the fretboard – string by string, starting from the root note. Two practice modes, one goal: know your scales cold.

What is Scale Finder?

You pick a root note and a scale. The root note appears on every string as a reference point. Your job is to find the remaining scale notes on the fretboard.

Getting Started

1 Choose a Root Note from the first dropdown (e.g. C).

2 Choose a Scale – start with Minor Pentatonic if you're new.

3 Choose a Mode – Step by step or Explore & Check.

4 Click the fretboard to find the notes.

Mode 1: Step by Step

The tool tells you exactly which note to find next – showing its name, interval, and which string to look at.

Click the correct fret and the note lights up in orange. Wrong clicks show a brief red flash – try again until you get it.

Work through every note in the scale, one at a time. When you've found them all, hit Reset and try a different key or scale.

💡 Tip: Use the ♪ / ① toggle (top right) to switch between note names and interval numbers. Practicing with intervals helps you see the pattern, not just the notes.

Mode 2: Explore & Check

No hand-holding here – you mark all the scale notes yourself, then press ✓ Check to see how you did.

Click any fret to select it – click again to deselect. When you're confident, hit Check.

After check, the fretboard shows your results:

Green – correctly selected

Red – wrongly selected (not in the scale)

Pulsing outline – missed (should have been selected)

💡 Tip: This mode is great for testing yourself after you've practiced with Step by step. Start with one string, then try all six.

String Filter

Below the fretboard you can select individual strings to focus on. Click a string name to highlight it – the selected strings get a yellow tint. Click All to practice across all six strings.

💡 Tip: Start with the low E string – root notes are easiest to find there. Then work your way up, one string at a time.

Colour Guide

Blue – root note (always visible as your reference point)

Orange – scale note you've found / selected

Green – correct (after Check in Explore mode)

Red – wrong / incorrect

Practice Suggestions

1 Start with C Minor Pentatonic – only 5 notes, easy to learn.

2 Focus on one string at a time using the string filter.

3 Switch to interval display (①) to see the pattern behind the notes.

4 Try Explore mode to test yourself without guidance.

5 Move to Major scale and modes (Dorian, Mixolydian) once Pentatonic feels easy.

💡 Tip: Consistency beats intensity. Five minutes every day is better than one hour once a week.