Over the years I’ve used various ways to notate scale and chord diagrams for myself. From using little credit card sized notes to TAB or just writing them down freehand.

When I started teaching back in 2006 I created all my scale and chord handouts using Illustrator, all done from scratch, which took quite a bit of time

So when I heard about the Neck Diagrams software I was intrigued.

Available for both Mac and PC, Neck Diagrams enables you to create your own Chord Diagrams, Fretboard Diagrams as well as using alternate tunings such as DADGAD or open G or creating diagrams for different instruments like mandolin, 7 string or bass etc. Interestingly it also has a scale generator for knocking up your own CAGED forms or even 3-note-per-string forms.

Diagrams can be printed off or exported to various popular formats, say, if you wanted to embed them on a webpage etc.

I’ve only been playing around with the free demo for a short while but the drag and drop nature of creating diagrams works well and it work fast!

It’s also great to see that the diagrams automatically outline various intervals involved in the scale makeup when you specify a root note. Exactly the way I tend to ‘see’ notes on the fretboard .

The demo has slightly limited features but gives a good idea of how it all works.

The full version is available in two formats, the Standard version costing £18 or the Pro version for £30 which features the scale generator wizard and also allows you to export to PNG/PDF/JPEG

No matter what level you’re at it’s always handy to be able to create some diagrams for yourself or others. I only wish it had been around when I first started teaching!