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JG.
Copper Member
Canada
40 Posts |
 Posted - 03/18/2008 : 01:40:17
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As I'm in the process of rediscovering the guitar after a long hiatus, I took it upon myself to try and formally learn music theory off various free websites. I started about 15 years and only played seriously for the first 3. In that time I managed to do 2 gigs: 1st was for a school play where I was a supporting guitarist for the band, and the 2nd with some buddies at the school formal dance (we played Metallica and Green Day). Even though during those first few years I managed to learn some basic music theory and carried on what I knew from beginning band (played the baritone), I never really set out to expand my knowledge of music theory and got wrapped up in learning varous tab sheets for the songs I liked most.
I had developed quite a bit of physical skills with my hands from countless hours of deciphering tab sheets, but I couldn't make sense theoretically of what I was playing - all I knew was if it sounded good or not to me.
Playing seriously again now, I've stuck to one music theory course for the guitar and the first step is to learn all the notes on the fretboard (something which I've noticed many teachers recommend in the beginning). I'm in the fourth week of learning the notes and although I feel my progress is slow, it's sort of slowly but surely coming into place. I have to do this by juggling my time between school and work and my girlfriend, so I don't get many solid hours of practice.
My question is this, for those players that are comfortable with the fretboard and music theory, how long did it take you to learn all the notes on the fretboard and do you have any tips or experiences that you could share?
Thanks in advance! 
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 03/18/2008 : 02:08:28
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G'day JG!!
Took me forever, and I still can't remember them by heart - I often have to "calculate" what note I'm actually on  (two strings heavier and two frets back is an E, so I must be on an E...).
Actually, that's the best trick I've found for knowing what note you are on. Go two strings heavier and two frets back and that's the same note you are on. It's easy to remember what notes are on what frets on the E and A strings - they are the root note of the barre chord played on the fret. Once you use the trick above, you have the E, A, D and G string covered. The small E string is the same as the big E, so that's 5 out of the 6 strings. Just have to learn the B string and you've got it nailed 
Anyway, it me took months of gently hacking to "get it" and it sort of falls into place eventually. Don't sweat it, just play and be happy!!
Regards,
Laurie
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DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 03/18/2008 : 03:14:58
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Welcome to Bossarea JG.! 
When I started out back in '83, I put colored dots all over my fretboard.. white for A, green for C, etc.. it helped.
Today, I'd recommend learning the CAGED method. Its pretty quick in showing you where everything is. I've got a document on my files page you can have:
http://gamefreaks.net/defrag/carbon_pi/files/caged_guitar.doc  |
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jack
Platinum Member
USA
1418 Posts |
Posted - 03/18/2008 : 03:24:32
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I learned them so long ago...the mid 80's, that I cannot remember how I did it...But I did put the guitar down for about 5 years, and still remembered them, but mainly I just kind of used the octave note on the 5th fret to kind of gauge where I am at, so on the 5th string on the 7th fret, in standard tuning, thats 1 step above the D octave for the open 4th string, and 1-step above the D octave is E, so I am on an E note. I use that method, but then also sort of do the same thing with the open notes and the octaves to the open notes on the 12th fret too. I don't know if I was able to explain this process adequately, as I thought I could explain it, but am just now realizing that even though I can now do this process in my head in fractions of a second, it may take some time to work up to...or maybe not. Let me know if this helps any and welcome to the forum... |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 03/18/2008 : 10:48:26
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| I'm no expert on theory but what i've found over the years is a good way to figure the scales and notes out and works from me came from something an old timer showed me many moons ago..... learn all the places on the neck where you can play the same chord...i.e the E major..in the first position,at the 4th fret,9th fret(root on the 7th fret) etc.... you will also find your 7th's,9th's augmented,diminished and all the other chords in the key usually close by...then you will find that a jazzer with voice a chord a little different to a blues player and the same with a country player so it's a continous learning curve....i found this to be an easy way to make sense of the major and minor and all the other scales and modes and how they progress up and down the neck....also don't just concentrate on the minor blues and rock type scales..learn the major scales as jumping between both can open up your playing soundwise..... thats one of the things i love about the guitar,i'm still finding new things to learn and i'm playing 25 years........... |
Edited by - FRANZONI on 03/18/2008 10:48:46 |
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DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 03/18/2008 : 14:46:17
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quote:
Originally posted by FRANZONI
..learn all the places on the neck where you can play the same chord...i.e the E major..in the first position,at the 4th fret,9th fret(root on the 7th fret) etc.... you will also find your 7th's,9th's augmented,diminished and all the other chords in the key usually close by...
That's where the CAGED method excels. |
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JG.
Copper Member
Canada
40 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2008 : 01:19:48
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Thanks for all the replies fellas, certainlly helps out to hear how other musicians approached the fretboard. I'm a bedroom guitarist for now and look to forums mostly for advice and such, and so far I've got to admit people here at BossArea are the friendliest.
Thanks for the CAGED sheet DeFrag, will certainly come in handy for reference!
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Tele_Man
Bronze Member
USA
86 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2008 : 04:59:27
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DeFrag,
That doc is awesome! I was familiar with the CAGED method, but in a different context. Now, I really see its value for learning the fretboard and plan on taking advantage of it. This may sound unbelievably naive, but I never considered the idea of consciously learning the notes on the fretboard. I'd watch videos of different guitarists and they knew every note on the board and I'd wonder, "Man, how do they know that?" I guess I just assumed that kind of knowledge simply came through playing, playing, and more playing. It never even entered my mind that one would sit and learn the fretboard! Duh, what a novel idea.
I feel like I've had everything ass-backwards all these years. I've put the cart before the horse - with an understanding of scales and theory would come mastery of the fretboard. These posts have helped me see it's just the opposite - with mastery of the freboard comes an understanding of scales and theory!
As daunting as it seems to learn the fretboard (21 frets x 6 strings!), it really isn't. The CAGED methods illustrates the patterns that unlock it all.
I'm glad I checked out this thread. Thanks, DeFrag, for giving me a the key to moving forward on the guitar! |
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DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2008 : 05:22:21
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You're most welcome guys.
Hey Tele, I'd appreciate a few sentences from you about the CAGED method in your context you mentioned.
Maybe I can see it a different way (as you have mine) & it'll reinforce what I learn. Whaddya say?
Basically, I'll play a C-Maj in 1st or open position (5th string root).
Then a barre at the 3rd fret using the A form (5th string root).
Then its up to the 8th fret using the G form (6th string root) & play the 1st, 2nd, 5th, & 6th strings.
Next will be an 8th fret barre chord with the E form.
Finally, a D form at the 10th fret (4th string root).
Remember, I'm playing all C's in this example. Another thing to note is that the E & G forms use the 6th string roots just like E's & G's in open position, while the A & C forms use 5th string roots just like their open positions. The D form always uses the 4th string root like a regular D chord down at open position. Think about it; it'll grow on you.
Its a method by which you can play a particular chord anywhere on the neck without much thought after you get used to it & know your notes on all strings up to the 12th fret. You can't really play all strings sometimes like the G form on the 8th fret in the above example as you only have the 4 outermost strings. But you'll quite quickly learn where the notes are & will be able to form barre chords or run scales from the roots you find.
I'm glad you like the doc. Good luck! |
Edited by - DeFrag on 03/19/2008 05:24:51 |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2008 : 12:04:20
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I had never heard of the CAGED before it looks great..like you said DeFrag it pretty similar to what i was shown by my mothers old neighbour who put me on the road.... the thing it shows with the octaves is great,that was another thing he showed me,basically the way he explained it to me was how classical players approach octaves to the way jazz players do,and i can see both patterns in the doc you posted....i use octaves quite a bit when i'm playing a jazzy blues...i guess it was from listening to wes and george when i was younger although i've heard SRV throw them in as well...they can be very effective to add a little spice to your playing..and it's nice to be able to do some of this stuff with your fingers rather than having to rely on a pedal...i was thinking of getting a B bender for my squier tele,but i think now i might get my old hotlicks videos out and watch arlen roth and danny gatton doing it with their fingers and try to pratice a bit harder this time around......but in my defense at the time the bands i was playing in had no tunes i could really throw the pedal steel type string bending into and we were all listeing to eric johnson.........it's easier now as we cover everything from U2 to vince gill so at least i get the chance to try it on a gig ..if i haven't had too many beers and forget to do it.... i noticed not only with me but other musicians as well that all the great stuff we do in practice can go out the window if your 'enjoying' yourself a little too much on gigs.....i've actually cut right back on the 'refreshments' until afterwards and i've noticed the others are doing the same and it's defo leading to better sound quality on the gigs....... |
Edited by - FRANZONI on 03/19/2008 12:06:37 |
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Learning the Fretboard
