How can I memorize the guitar fretboard?

Question

I have been playing guitar for a while, but I've come to the point where i cannot progress further without first memorizing the fretboard... Improv, scales, the keys, chords... they all revolve around knowing the notes on the fretboard.

I've tried playing the octave shapes in trying to memorize the natural notes of the guitar, but I am getting nowhere. Please, any advice on this is welcome.

Answer 1

heres an easy method to knowing all the notes on the fretboard which requires minimal memorizing. first things first. the notes all have a flat or sharp between them except b-c and e-f . Therefore starting at a and naming the sharps it goes a a# b c c# d d# e f f# g g# a ... this is an endless loop so you can start at any note and continue up from that note. for example the bass string or sixth string is tuned to E when open therefore the notes going up are f 1st fret .. f# 2 nd fret... G 3rd fret... g# 4th fret... a 5th fret... a# 6th fret... B 7th fret...C 8th fret... c# 9th fret ... d 10th fret ... d# 11th fret ... and back to E at the octave 12th fret... this repeats itself beyond the 12th fret. Now you have to memorize the notes on the 6th string above. start with the whole notes which are frets 1,3,5,7,8,10,12 ==== f,g,a,b,c,d,e.. you will need these for bar chords anyway. then do the same for the 5th string which starts at A open. If you know these 2 strings Ill show you how to get all the rest. first off the thin string #1 is also an e so its the same as the 6th string. Now we know 3 strings. heres the trick! Pick any note on the 3rd G or 4th D string anywhere up the fretboard. Look down 2 frets and down two strings (thicker) which will take you to the 5th or 6th string which you already know. That note is the same :example 4th string 7th fret... down 2 frets 5th down 2 strings (thicker) 6th string which is an A. you will easily get to recognize this as an A just by looking at the pattern. Now lets try a note on the third string G .. lets pick the 5th fret. transpose our pattern down 2 frets down 2 strings which gives us 5th string 3rd fret which is a C therefore 3rd string 5th fret is a C. I hope you see the pattern.

The only exception is the 2nd string. because you tuned the second string only 4 half steps higher than the 3rd. the pattern changes on this string it becomes down 3 frets then down 2 strings. which gives you the 4th string same note OR you can use directly down 5 frets and down 4 strings which takes you to the 6th string you already memorized. the first string is the same as the sixth string so you dont need to use any pattern on it. After a while you will start to recognize these notes throughout the fretboard and you,ll know all the notes. Most any practiced guitar player already knows the 5th and 6th strings because they are used for common barre chord formations the E barre and the A barre. I hope this helps.

Answer 2

Looking down at the fretboard there is very little visual reference. Yes the guitar may have fret markers such as pearl inlay dots. Aside from those, a location of a certain string and fret looks exactly like another location of a string and fret. Unlike the piano which is completely coded by a repeating pattern of key shapes and key colors, there is simply no concrete visual reference on the guitar. I think this is the reason why many guitarists, even some very good ones, do not have the notes memorized.



There are two important aspects to learning the notes: One is memorization techniques. Yes, learning the natural notes first is a good one. Try learning all of the locations of each notes, such as learn all of the E's, then all of the A's, etc. Another technique is to memorize a string at a time. Learn the E string, and since there are two E strings you have just conquered 1/3 of the problem.



The second part of learning the fretboad is learning the musical theory and definitions of the layout. We tend to think that string 5 (A) fret 4 is a completely different phenomena from string 2 (B) fret 14. We have to stop thinking this way. Those two place are related. Every two place on guitar are related. If we learn the relationships between notes, and understand the relationships on the fretboard, it will be far easier to remember the notes.



The relationships between the notes, the distance between notes, is called the intervals. Arius mentioned octaves and that is a very important interval. Learn the definition of these first. An octave is two notes 12 half-steps apart. Do not count the starting note as this is a "distance between the notes". The Wikipedia article "Interval (music)" is a good start. Learn the general name (example: major) and the specific name (example: third). Then memorize the note letters for each interval. For example, G to B is a major third. A to C# another. You can spend one to two weeks on each of the intervals. Do not rush this. Once you learn the definitions, then play these intervals all over the fretboard. For example play G then B everywhere. Then play A and C# everywhere, etc.



Once you understand that these intervals are movable patterns that can be played all over the guitar, remembering the notes will come to you.



John C. Boukis

Author: Memorize The Guitar Fretboard

Answer 3

Learn to play chords all over the fretboard. For example, the C chord is played in more places other than the standard formation. Get a complete chord book that shows the different formations of each chord. Eventually you will tie together those notes that sound similar but are in different frets.



Added note: Tom has something there for you. Take each string and progress up the fretboard, identifying the string note in each fret. That would be called the Chromatic Scale. Soon, you'll associate A in the fifth fret, C in the eighth fret, and E in the 12th fret on the first and sixth strings. That information helps with fully barred chords later on.

Answer 4

The best and most fun way is a game. Try this Fretboard Trainer Game

http://www.fachords.com/master-guitar-fretboard-game-intro/



credits on the page say ""After 20 years of playing I finally found the way to learn the whole fretboard in a couple of weeks." "

Answer 5

Using the Chromatic Scale for each string will help you memorize the notes on the fretboard. Google Chromatic Scale and copy it. Then learn it.

Answer 6

get a piece of paper. draw the guitar neck with the strings and frets, label the notes. now look at the paper and see how the notes are placed. memorize the order the notes go up 1 string, the low E. now as you are doing that before you play your guitar each time lay it face up so you are looking down at the frets. and drill your self before you play. .... here are all the A notes here are all the C notes. and point to the notes with your hand. that will help you learn the octaves as well as where the notes are at. do that every day before you play.

Answer 7

There are various memory techniques where you can make a picture out of things to help you remember them. And the more ridiculous the better.

So for example I think the D chord looks a bit like the letter D.

You could even assign names to each so for example if you know someone called David you could somehow link it into where the chord is. There are also techniques that people use to remember long series of numbers and these techniques could be incorporated maybe.

That might help along with the practise. However like you I am just beginning and there seems to be a phenomenal number of chords -- aaarggh !!

Answer 8

The best way is it start learning the C note on each string (only up to the 12 fret because, it repeats itself from there). There will only be one C on each String to learn. Once you have learned this, go on to learn the B and so on. Miss out the sharps and flats as that will come easier once you've learned all the abcdefg. It may sound tedious but spend a week on each note and u'll know it off by heart in 6 weeks!

Answer 9

don't overwhelm yourself with the entire fret board take 1 string at a time and memorize it; say the note out loud when you pick it, it helps in the memorization

Answer 10

there are, offers or marvelous downloads,

they will claim that the best guitarists use them and mention names,

but listen to PKS above me here, Practice IS THE BEST WAY.

Do not listen to those fantastic claims or theories, and save your time and money for practice.

Take it in baby steps.

Good Luck