swiftlessons

Notes on the Fretboard - Diagram and Quizes

Added 2017-07-21 18:31:30 +0000 UTC

Hello friends,

Today I'm going to confront a hard truth... The majority of guitar players in the world are learning songs, scales, licks and other techniques without a crucial prerequisite; a firm knowledge of the notes on the fretboard.

I personally put off learning this for many years, and while I could impress audiences with my playing, I always knew in the back of my mind that there was something very important missing from my skill-set.

So today I'm going to ask that you invest a little time each day toward memorizing the notes on each of your six strings. Once you've done this, you'll find that all things related to music theory will come much easier, as you unlock the mysteries of the fretboard.

Attached you will find three helpful graphics:

Tips for memorizing notes:

1) Begin by learning the notes on the E string, where all your bar chord and scale root notes are. Because we have two E strings, you're "killing two birds with one stone."

2) Practice no more than five frets at a time. For each string, it helps to drill frets 1-5, then 3-7, 5-10, so on and so forth. The overlap between sets will likely lead to better retention.

3) Study no more than two strings per day. The goal is to get to the point where you can quickly identify a note. With patient repetition, this will become second nature.

4) Start implementing your new knowledge right away. Every time you learn a new riff, lick, melody or chord, use it as an opportunity to brush up on your note names. I recommend keeping a print out of your diagram handy for times when you get stuck.