Learn The Fretboard - How To Memorize The Notes Of The Fretboard

Summary

In this instructional video, Dave from 'Guitar Zero to Hero' shares effective methods for mastering the guitar fretboard. He emphasizes the distinction between merely knowing and truly internalizing the fretboard, illustrating how internalization can enhance improvisation and composition skills. Dave introduces the musical alphabet and explains how to apply it to the guitar, using reference points like the open strings and the 12th fret. He provides several exercises and note shortcuts to help guitarists memorize and navigate the fretboard efficiently. The video concludes with advanced exercises designed to solidify fretboard knowledge, advocating for daily practice and periodic review to maintain proficiency.

Takeaways

• 🎼 Knowing vs. Internalizing: The video emphasizes the difference between knowing the fretboard and internalizing it, with the latter being crucial for improvising and composing.
• 🔠 Musical Alphabet: The script introduces the 12-note musical alphabet and the concept of sharps and flats, highlighting the absence of sharps or flats between B and C and E and F.
• 🎸 Fretboard Application: The importance of memorizing the notes of the open strings and the 12th fret is stressed for navigating the fretboard effectively.
• 🔄 Octave Shortcuts: The video teaches several shortcuts for finding the same note an octave higher on different locations of the fretboard.
• 🎹 String Internalization: An exercise is provided to internalize the fretboard by focusing on individual strings and their natural notes.
• 🎵 Musical Alphabet Drill: The script suggests verbally saying the note names while playing them to enhance memory and internalization.
• 📈 Metronome Practice: The use of a metronome is recommended for timing exercises that involve finding and playing specific notes on different strings.
• 🎼 Three-Note Phrases: The video introduces an exercise to play three-note phrases in multiple positions to build muscle memory.
• 🔢 Random Note Drills: Exercises are presented to play random notes on each string vertically and then alternating between two or three notes.
• ⏩ Speed and Accuracy: The importance of increasing metronome speed as one gets better and maintaining accuracy while playing is highlighted.
• 🔄 Octave Shape Internalization: The final exercise focuses on using octave shape shortcuts to jump around the fretboard, reinforcing the need to say the note names aloud for memorization.

Q & A

What is the main difference between knowing the fretboard and internalizing the fretboard according to Dave?

Knowing the fretboard means you can figure out the note on a specific fret if asked, while internalizing the fretboard means you can instantly and without hesitation provide the note and its various positions on the neck, making it second nature.

Why is it important to internalize the fretboard for guitar playing?

Internalizing the fretboard is important for taking guitar playing to new heights, especially when it comes to improvising and composing, as it allows for instant recognition of notes and their positions.

What is the musical alphabet and how many notes does it consist of?

The musical alphabet consists of 12 notes: A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, and G#. It loops back to A after G#, with the next A being an octave higher.

What is the difference between a sharp and a flat in the musical alphabet?

A sharp ascends up in pitch, for example from A to A#, while a flat descends down in pitch, such as from A to Ab.

Why do the notes B and C and E and F have no sharps or flats between them?

There are no sharps or flats between B and C and E and F because that's a rule in the musical alphabet that needs to be memorized; these are the only places where the alphabet jumps directly from one note to the next without an intermediate sharp or flat.

How can you use the 12th fret as a reference point on the guitar fretboard?

The 12th fret serves as a reference point because the notes at this fret are the same as the open string notes, just an octave higher. This helps in identifying and memorizing the notes on the fretboard.

What are some exercises Dave suggests to help internalize the fretboard?

Dave suggests exercises such as spelling out the musical alphabet up the fretboard, playing random notes without a specific order, finding one note on every string vertically, playing three-note phrases, and using octave shape shortcuts to jump between notes.

How can a metronome be used in the exercises to internalize the fretboard?

A metronome can be used to push thinking and test oneself by setting a tempo to find and play the target notes within the beats or in between them, ensuring accuracy and timing.

What is the purpose of the octave shape shortcuts mentioned in the script?

The octave shape shortcuts are used to quickly identify the same note an octave higher on different locations of the fretboard, making it easier to navigate and play in various positions.

Why is it recommended to say the note names out loud while practicing the fretboard exercises?

Saying the note names out loud while practicing helps in internalizing the fretboard, as it engages both the auditory and kinesthetic learning processes, reinforcing the memory of the notes' positions.

What is the final advice Dave gives regarding the maintenance of fretboard knowledge after mastering it?

Dave advises making the exercises part of a weekly brush-up routine to ensure that the fretboard knowledge doesn't fade over time, highlighting the importance of regular practice.