Fretz is a programmable fretboard chart for a variety of common stringed instruments. It may be useful for students learning scales and chords on a new instrument or learning the positions for a custom tuning.
How to Use
General
The fretboard for guitar in standard tuning is shown by default. You can change to another instrument or customize the string tunings. The open strings are to the left of the nut, and have a different color background than the rest of the board. The notes for each string on each fret are below the string.
Chords
To highlight the fret positions of the notes of a chord you need to select the root note of the chord and the mode. Major is the default mode. .
The notes will be highlighted on the fret below the string in the chord highlight color.
The notes of the chord will be displayed below the mode selection checkboxes.
To play a chord, make sure that each note listed is covered (or open string) at least once.
If a chord note on a string can not be played (out of reach perhaps, or not enough fingers)
either avoid striking it or deaden it with a nearby finger otherwise you may not like the sound.
To clear the chord highlighting, select None for the root note.
*** The color of the title of the Chord section will be the color of the chord notes.
Scales
To show the notes of a scale, select the root note, and a mode - Major is the preselected mode by default.
To play the scale, start with the lowest root note on the lowest / most base string and play all the subsequent notes in order changing string as your finger reach demands.
There are extra scales added in version 1.2. Select the root note and the scale from the select list.
The chromatic scale was included, it include every note (all 12)- it's not very useful.
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To clear the scales, select "None" for the root tone.
When a scale is selected a list of compatible chords is generated. These chords contain only notes that are in that scale. I thought this might be useful info.
Instrument
The common 6 and 4 stringed instruments are available preset to their standard tunings.
These include Guitar, Bass Guitar, Ukulele, Violin, Banjo, and Mandolin (as 4 strings).
Tuning
After selecting an instrument, each string may be custom tuned.
The strings are numbered as usual highest pitch=String 1 lowest String 6 (or 4).
A simple select box of the 12 notes selects the open base of each string.
Press the "Tune Strings" when done and the chart will be redrawn.
Colorizing
The highlight colors for scales and chords can be modified.
Granted, the interface may be a bit primitive, but it can be done.
The Chord and Scale selection have a title.
Press the title of the section ("Chord" or "Scale") and a prompt dialog pops up.
Enter either the name of a Web Color or the numeric value of a color.
You may have to change chord or scale for the colors to update.
You can google "web colors" or use a color chart from a paint program or office suite.
Here is a tool to help select a Named Web Color.
Color Chart