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Hi guys
Iv decided I want to learn the notes all over the fretboard and I’m a little lost,so far I have learned all the notes on the low E and the A string,iv also learned that the high E string and the Low E string share the same notes and that after the 12th fret the notes repeat themselves,so far I’m happy with what iv learned but I’m confused with the # and flats,example 9th fret A string is F# correct? So how can it also be G flat? Am I missing something how can one string be 2 notes? -
Paddy,
You are correct that the 9th fret of the A string is either and F# or G flat. These notes are called enharmonic, meaning they have the same pitch but can be “spelled” a different way. What name you use for the note depends on the key that you are in. For example if you are playing in G, you could not have the notes G flat then G. You would have F#, then G. Likewise if you are playing in G flat, you would have F then G flat (not F#).Hope that helps.
Bob -
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AM is based on the CAGED system, which takes into account the particularity of the guitar (in standard tuning) in order to identify a number of repeating patterns and shapes that remain exactly the same all the way up the neck no matter what key you’re playing in.
With the system, learning the notes of every fret on every fret is superfluous. You only need to know the notes names on the 5th and 6th string. (Which are easy to learn)
Diving deeper within the patterns, you’ll learn to identify where the root notes (and, eventually, where the other “important” notes, for example, the IV, the V, the VII) are located within that pattern. THIS is the essential information you need to know. The actual notes (C, D, E, etc.) aren’t really necessary.
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Hi Marty V
I’m back to been lost again,sorry I’m just not as advanced as you guys are,so am I wasting my time trying to learn all the notes? Would I be better just leaving it at knowing the notes on the low E and A string and spending the time it will take to learn the rest on something else like my scales ?-
That’s my opinion on this subject. There are reasons, of course, to know all the notes — I imagine classical and jazz musicians need this information. But they all tend to work with very advanced-level musical theory.
But for the rest of us, really, the best thing to focus on is the scale patterns (which Brian covers in the Blues Lead course, and which he refers back to again all the time in the lessons).
The scale patterns are actually named after the chord shapes, that is, E – D – C – A – G (but the system is called CAGED because it sounds better). But that gets into a slightly more advanced layer of the CAGED system.
Knowing at least the notes on the 6th string (and the 5th string) is helpful so you’ll always know what key you’re playing in.
This kind of thing is also personality driven, and also depends on how you visualize things. For me, it’s easier to “see” the patterns and chord shapes than it is to “see” the note names.
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Hi Marty V
I can see I’m going to get a couple of different opinions on this subject and that is ok as we all learn different and all have and are entitled to our own opinions,please don’t tink I am dismissing your reply,I am not! I will listen to everyone and am so grateful for everyone’s help and I will take all the info I get and try work it out,Marty you say learn the scale shapes? Do you mean my 5 positions? Iv learned my pentatonic scale in position 1 and 2 so I should learn 3,4and 5 and are you saying learn the notes only in the scale? Sorry if I’m confused just clarify iv only started learning lead and scales and notes 2 weeks ago so I’m not as advanced as most,iv played rhythm for 4 years so this is all new to me. -
Hi,
Yes, definitely, there will be differing opinions on this. As I mentioned, a lot of this is a personality thing – it depends on who you are. I’m the “less is more” type. Something I learned when I went through my “must learn the fretboard” phase, before finding a guitar teacher who works with the CAGED system.A lot of (great) guitarists spend their entire career in the minor pentatonic scale, and there’s nothing wrong with this. And I doubt most of the old blues greats knew or cared about scales, notes, etc. They learned from each other, and from playing. (I’m a fan of that approach, with just enough theory to understand why it all works so well).
I mentioned my own attempt to learn the fretboard (using similar tools to those linked in this thread). I managed to get much of it under my belt, but then I ran into a problem : this taught me nothing about making music. The hours I spent trying to memorize the notes would have been better spent actually playing the guitar!
I also think focusing on the note names ignores what so special about the guitar in standard tuning: The fretboard really is just a repeating series of patterns — up and down the neck, and back and forth across the fretboard. It’s quite amazing, really, and I feel once you’ve achieved a picture of that, you’ll have a better understanding of the GUITAR.
And it really doesn’t matter if you’re fretting a G or an A — what matters is the position of the note within the key you’re playing in. So if you know the CAGED system, you’ll also know that when you’re playing in Pattern I (where you’ll spend 90 percent of your time), you’ll always know where your I (root)** notes are — they form a neat triangle. From there, you can choose to learn the locations of the other notes. It’s helpful to know where the IV and V and VII notes are (but you learn to find these just by playing — because they sound good).
Anyway, if you haven’t worked through Brian’s blues course, then do that first of all. You can find more information about the CAGED system elsewhere. And of course this system doesn’t prevent you from learning the note names either!
(***Just in case, the notes in a scale are labeled like this: I ii iii IV V vi VII)
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Hi Paddy,
Another way to help learn notes is the “rule of fourths.” Across the fret-board instead of up and down. B E A D G C F. Assume you are on the sixth string B note, 7th fret. The notes across the neck are B E A D then adjust up a half step on the 2nd string B, G C. Notes are B E A D G C. You always adjust up 1/2 step for the B string.
This helps me a lot in addition to how you described learning the notes.
Bob W.
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HI Paddy,
I think it is a good idea to get the notes under your belt its not that problematic. There is a great tool for learning them here https://www.fachords.com/tools/fretboard-trainer/ What I can say is that it will help in understanding odd bits and pieces on the way through Brian’s lessons and you will pick up a slightly better understanding of point as you go along or so I believe for that is where I am and I have used this method to help me. I now see a few extras in the lessons that I might have missed from time to time. So I reckon you should go for it. Its certainly no harm done!
All the Best
JohnStrat -
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You can memorise / work out a lot of it from chord shapes ( or at least I do)
I still think of notes in relation to open and bar chords connected to E, A & D shapes mostly and your 6 & 1 string are both E then take it from there.
Playing an E chord with a D shape and A shape helps visualizer patterns
Hope this helpes
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Paddy C.,
The best way to learn notes for improvisation is knowing the major and minor Pentatonic Scales. They threw the door wide open for me. I am now learning the Natural scales. The Dorian mode of the Natural scale fills in some blanks in the Pentatonic scale. My instructor had me learn the Pentatonic scales first. Once I had all five positions learned and I could learn to improvise, he then moved me to the Natural scale. Brian said he just learned the Pentatonic major and minor scales. That is certainly enough to really bump up your improvisational skills.
Have fun man.
Bob W.
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Thanks Bob W
I know my pentatonic scale in position 1 and 2 the resion I want to learn the notes is how else will I know my root note? When I’m using the scale over let’s say the key of A well if I know all my notes I’ll know where all the A’s are on the board and can resolve and end my licks on them,please tell me if I have this wrong
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Paddy,
I agree with the earlier posts that support learning all the notes of the fretboard. Even with the CAGED system you need to know the notes on the lower three strings to find your way. There are also a set of very useful chords that often the top parts of the CAGED chord that lie on the top four strings. The root of the chords cycles through each of the top four strings. You need to know these notes to freely find the right chord. You might hear Brian say slide the D chord shape up three frets and you have an F chord, but you don’t want to have to make that mental calculation, especially if you are moving way up the neck.
I am not a fan of straight memorization of the notes. I think I got the most benefit from playing a scale on one string only, then moving to another string. You can even stick to one scale- C major. Play it up and down, and think or say the note you are playing. Move to a different string and repeat. Only takes a couple of minutes every session, and you will start getting the notes.
Bob
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Paddy the link I sent is a sort of game and they reckon play for about 2 week and you will be well on the way to knowing all the notes. I used it and it worked well for me . just try playing and see how quickly you improve its pretty cool way to learn readily. JohnStrat
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Paddy,
I agree exactly with what Bob S had to say. Here’s one quick tip. You know the open string note names and therefore the notes at the 12th fret. If you tune your guitar at the 5th fret (3rd string, 4th fret for the B note) you know the notes part way up the neck. The 7th fret is the same note name as the open lower pitched string above (except for that darn B string where the 8th fret(not 7th fret) is a G). Now you just have to fill a few gaps and everything repeats above the 12th fret.
To learn the notes instinctively you have to practice them out of sequence. One method is to use the order of keys in the “circle of fourths”, ie. B, E, A, D, G, C, F, B flat, E flat, A flat, D flat, G flat, and locate those notes on each string. Work on one or two strings a day and persistence will pay off.John
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I would say don’t try and make it an overnight process. It’s a slow thing to learn all the notes. Good luck!
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Billy Even if you already are pretty ok with th fret board I can utterly recomend taking time out at the link I posted above. You will be amazed at how quickly you pick up the layout and how easy it is to freshen the details using the cleverly designed game/tool at fachords. This has made the task infinitely easier in my experience. If any of you take time to use the trainer and find it as good as I have or otherwise comment here wuld be great. JohnStrat
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Here is a great article on CAGED.. https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/19390-7-the-guitarists-guide-to-the-caged-system?page=1
@Marty V You said all you need is the 5th and 6th string notes, and that isn’t quite correct.. the 4th string is the cageD part of the system.. (the D part) (5th string = CA, 6th string = GE, 4th string = D)
It may look intimidating at first glance, but, right now, for you, don’t think of this as something “advanced”. This is a major plus for you to learn NOW. This is the bicycle that you learn now, and will be able to ride the rest of your life.. 😉
(Read it several times !!!)
Don't practice till you get it right, practice till you can't get it wrong.
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Paddy,
Each of those major chord CAGED shapes corresponds to a position of the major pentatonic. The CAGED shapes connect those major chords root to root, so it is another way to learn the root positions of the major pentatonic scales. You can modify CAGED for the minor shapes as well.The other advantage is the CAGED will help make you see smaller chord shapes within the CAGED shapes and Brian often uses these small chords in his lessons.
John -
I started taking in person lessons a few years ago. On the first day my teacher asked, “you do know all the notes on the fretboard don’t you?” to which i said “no”. His reply “well you gotta learn the fretboard if you want to play guitar”. And I did! I’m a better player because of it. It didn’t happen over night though. Like John Strat posted above the most useful training aid for me barre (pun intended) none, is this web site:
<a href=”https://www.fachords.com/tools/fretboard-trainer/Fred
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I know the CAGED system, and I instantly know the names of the notes on over half the fretboard, and I can figure out the rest in a couple of seconds. The funny part is, I NEVER use this information when I’m playing improv or anything else. What I DO use everyday is knowledge of where the root notes and the 4 & 5 notes are within each pentatonic scale position. That’s why I’ll probably only ever be a blues guitar player, and not a jazz guitar player.
Sunjamr Steve
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