Anchoring on the chord tones is like the easy button for lead guitar playing.
When playing lead guitar, it becomes so much easier and fluid if you focus on the chord tones.
For example, if the chord being played is a C major at the current moment, then simply use the notes C, E, and G as anchor points. You just can’t go wrong when playing these notes. Then, let’s say the chord changes to a G major, just use the G, B, and D notes as anchor points.
Once you have located the anchor points, you can wander around to different notes of the scale to add flavor.
We love to look at just 3 strings at a time on the guitar. This makes it easy on the fingers and brain. Today we are using the 3 highest strings on the guitar, G, B and high E.
The picture above shows the C major chord in several spots up the guitar neck.
The red notes are the root of the chord, in this case the note C, yellow is the 3rd the note E and finally G is blue, the 5th of the chord. Using these notes as anchors, you can reach any other note other scale within 2 frets or less. That is within a half step or whole step.
Half step = 1 Fret
Whole step = 2 Frets
Here are the “other” notes of the C major scale, besides the chord tones and how to get to them easily.
D – whole step above red, or whole step behind yellow.
F – half step above yellow, whole step behind blue.
A – whole step above blue.
B – half step behind red.
Fire Up a Music App that Can Play a C Chord
Then play around with soloing over top using the C major chord tones as anchor points. Wander around the other notes of the scale, always coming back to a chord tone; C, E, or G.
Once you have this down try it over 2 chords, Rock On!
