How to Play Guitar Half Steps

In order to understand playing half-steps on the guitar, you have to know a little about the guitar fretboard. The way a guitar is made, putting your finger in between two frets (the little metal parts on the board) makes a note on the chromatic scale. The half step is a space between two chromatic notes. When you know a little about music theory, you can use half steps creatively to roll out better tunes on the guitar.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Move your finger up one fret to lay simple half steps. Moving your finger over one fret makes your note one half step higher. This is always the case, since every fret space is essentially one half step higher on the scale.

2. Play through two half steps to make a whole step. Although B-C and E-F are the two exceptions on the scale, generally, when you play two half steps at a time, you play up one whole step. Playing two half steps in a guitar solo lets you use the half step sound without being dissonant, because you are resolving the sound on your end note, which is a full step up. Guitar players use these three-note combos to add spice to a riff.

3. Do a "walking line." This is popular on bass guitar. You start on one note, and play one half step down on each beat of the percussion. Try this, and you'll hear that familiar "walking sound" that goes "be-dum-dum-dum-dum" (your notes = E, D#, D, C#, C, etc).

4. Use a "fluttering" technique. Another way to use half steps is to quickly take your finger on and off of the higher fret. Your sound "flutters" back and forth between the two notes, almost like a tremolo effect.

5. Utilize half steps in greater patterns. Learn to recognize them in sheet music and other musical notation. Guitar players use half steps in a variety of ways within a number of scales besides the chromatic. Find out about useful tricks from veteran guitarists and put them to use.