Newsletter #2 – Fretboard 101: Master the Guitar Neck

Fretboard Roadmaps

I personally own this book and find it to be well organized, informative and easy to understand. You will discover what you need to know in order to play lead and rhythm guitar anywhere on the neck. You’ll also learn a
variety of lead guitar styles and how to play chord progressions in any key.

FEATURED THIS MONTH:

Fretboard Mastery

With this innovative palm pilot software you will learn how to recognize every note on every fret quickly and easily. It will help to build your confidence and improve your playing with just a few minutes practice each day. You can even test drive it first when you take advantage of the 21 day free trial. Plus, you’ll get a free bonus guitar tuner when you purchase! This product is very affordably priced too.

MUSIC TRIVIA:

Did you know…

Jimi Hendrix developed his awesome skills as a lead guitarist practically overnight? As the story goes, Jimi was so devoted to practicing his guitar that he would often fall asleep at night while working on some new lick or riff he had learned earlier that day. When he awoke the next morning he would pick up the guitar, still lying by his side, and resume his practice. Now that’s what I call dedication. It’s no wonder he became such an awesome guitar player!

GUITAR TIPS:

~ The Guitar Fretboard ~

Today we’ll focus on an easy, systematic way of learning the
tones associated with first position on the fretboard.

As you might already know, the letters which identify the open strings are:

1st: E
2nd: B
3rd: G
4th: D
5th: A
6th: E

Lets begin with the open E on the sixth string and moving forward

alphabetically as shown below:

FRETBOARD: –0–|–1–|–2—|–3–|–4—-|

6th STRING: –E–|–F–|–F#–|–G–|–G#–|

Play and say each note out loud as you move along the string toward the 4th fret.

Use your first finger to play the first fret,
second finger to play the second fret and so on. This is how to establish the correct fingering for first position. After you’ve reached the G# on the fourth fret, move to fifth string and continue:

FRETBOARD: –0–|—1—|–2–|–3–|–4—-|
5th STRING: –A–|—A#–|–B–|–C–|–C#–|

Now move to the fourth string, playing and saying each note out loud:

FRETBOARD: –0–|–1—|–2–|–3–|–4—-|
4th STRING: –D–|–D#–|–E–|–F–|–F#–|

Continue this pattern with the remaining three strings saying each note out loud as you go.

Try playing the entire exercise again in reverse! The G

sharp you played before on the first string at the fourth fret, now becomes an A flat. This is because the A natural tone on the fifth fret has been lowered a 1/2 step to Ab on the fourth fret.

FRETBOARD: –4—|–3–|–2—|–1–|–0–|
1st STRING: –Ab–|–G–|–Gb–|–F–|–E–|

It’s very important to say the name of the notes out loud as you move back down toward the sixth string. Most people find it harder to say the alphabet backwards and think in flats, so take your time! Remember, your goal is to build an association between your fingers and your mind as you are learning the fretboard.

If you play and say the notes on the fretboard in this manner every time you practice, you will have them memorized before you know it! Plus, it’s a great way to strengthen your fingers, and build those needed callouses!

If you need further help, please see my free online guitar lesson:

href=”http://www.abclearnguitar.com/guitar-fretboard.html”target=”_blank”>Learning the Guitar Fretboard

CHALLENGE:

Try practing the hammer-on (^ = hammer) that you learned last week as you’re playing and saying the notes on the fretboard:

-0^1^2^3^4–
-E-F-F#G-G#-

FOR EXTRA PRACTICE:

Try playing through the following exercises:

Speed & Coordination Skills

FOR MORE INSPIRATION:

Please see my recent blog titled:

Music Goals & Priorities

MORE TO COME!

Look for more interesting tips & ideas to come in next month’s issue of the ABC Learn Guitar Newsletter! Thanks for subscribing!

Musically yours,

Kathy Unruh

DON’T FORGET!

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Newsletter #2 – Fretboard 101: Master the Guitar Neck

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