Chord-Scale Compatibility
The core question of improvisation: what do I play over this chord? Pick a chord and a scale; chord tones, the scale's characteristic note, safe tensions and notes to handle with care are separated by colour.
Guide
How to use the Chord-Scale Compatibility
Chord and scale
Choose the root first, then the chord type: fourteen types, from plain major and minor triads to sevenths, sixths, sus chords and m7b5. The scale box lists only scales that sit on that chord, each tagged with the colour it brings (calm, slightly tense, altered or bluesy).
Two panels: chord and scale
The upper neck shows only the chord's own tones; browse voicings with the arrows if there are several. The TAB below lays the scale out as an exercise within one position, from the low string to the high string, with fret number and note name in each cell. Toggle the panels with the buttons above.
What the colours mean
Root, 3rd, 5th and 7th mark the chord tones; the characteristic note gives the scale its colour; tensions are extensions you can add freely; avoid notes clash with the chord and shouldn't be held. The panel lists every tone and explains why the pairing works.
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