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→Using Chromatics
The most simple use of chromatics is to borrow from the chromatic scale. The chromatic scale is the ultimate symmetric scale, with any possible note being the tonic with the same relationship to all other notes in the scale. This means its tonicity is extremely weak, which can make it sound aimless. Its constant use of half-step movements can sound like there's a lot of action but at the same time the pitch is moving slowly. And it can sound kind of comic. Its usage is mostly for small snippets rather than shifting completely to a chromatic scale.
|---------|
E------------------------
B--------------------0-1-
Other popular scales to borrow from are the whole tone and octatonic scales. These scales are also highly symmetric and have weak tonicity.
|-----------|
E-------------------------
B----------------------1--
E-------------------------
|---------|
E-------------------------
B----------------------1--
Blues is popular for its use of ''blue notes'' - the flattened 3rd, 5th, and 7th. These can either be added to or replace the corresponding notes of the major scale.
* * *
E-------------------------
B--------------------0-1--
A--3----------------------
E-------------------------
* * *
E-------------------
B----------------1--
A--3----------------
E-------------------
The key to getting the right feel from the blue notes is to only hint at the regular note. This works best by quickly sliding down from the regular note to the blue note, so the regular note is simply a grace note. Or you can play the blue note and quarter bend up towards the regular note.
== Moving around the Fretboard ==