Learning the notes of the fretboard.

Learning the notes of the fretboard. This is one of those things that are not very fun but very important to learn.

There are a couple of different approaches to learn the fretboard notes. We are learning to tune the guitar so now we can start memorizing the open strings. These are as follows starting with the thicker string. As shown below 6 – E string 5 – A string, 4 – D string, 3 – G string, 2 – B string and 1 – e string.

I believe the best option is since 2 strings are the same you learn the notes on the 6th string and automatically you know the notes on the 1st string.

I have removed the upper half of the fretboard so we can zoom in the lower half and concentrate on that since if you know the notes on frets 1-12. They just repeat 13-<22-24> depending on how many frets you have.

Even better news you know the A note is on the 5th fret 6th string (1st string as well 5th fret) as you found out on the tuning blog. Just work on the 6th string memorize the notes and listen intentionally to each note on the string and remember the sound of each note.

Ok now we are ready to jump to the A string 5th string as follows below:

I'm going to remove the upper half of the fretboard to zoom in closer to the fretboard but remember the notes on the 13th fret up to the <22-24> frets will be the same.

Here is the first twevle frets.

We have the following so far:

Now we have a couple of patterns that you can memorize - you can do whatever you think works best for you. Below I will outline that there is the BC-EF pattern.

Just watch on strings 3 and 2 the BC-EF pattern gets shifted due to the B string being tuned to a 3rd and not a 4th like the other strings so you have to shift the EF up one fret so we have the BC starting on the 3rd string 4th fret (B note) and on the 2nd string we have the EF starting of the 5th Fret of the 2nd string (E note).

Below is another pattern you could use - starting on the 6th string if you look at the first fret F note (in green) you go down to the D string and up 3 frets from the first fret (where the F note would be on the 6th string) you find the F note on the 3rd fret of the D string. You can do the same thing with the G note on the 3rd fret of the 6 string and go down to the D string and up 3 frets from the 3rd fret (again below the G note on the 3rd fret 6 string) and find the G note on the D string 5th fret. This is repeating all the way up the fretboard as shown between the 6th string and 4th string with the green notes.

We see the same pattern between the 5th string and the 3rd string as well shown in the blue coloured notes on the fretboard picture below.

Let's recap what notes you have memorized now. Shown below:

Black notes indicating the ones we have left to memorize.

OR:

We can also use the 5th string to learn the notes on the B string as with the 6th string to the 4th string or the 5th string to the 3rd string we took the note on the 5th string and moved our finger striaght down below to the 3rd string and then moved that finger up 3 frets to get the same note on the 3rd string as the 5th string. We can do the same thing with the 5th string move our finger striaght down to the 2nd string and this time down 3 frets and get the same note. You can see below for the diagram.

For example looking at the diagram above if you put your finger on the 5th string 3rd fret (C note) and move your finger down to the 2nd string 3rd fret and then down 3 frets to the first fret you have the C note there. Same as if you put your finger on the 5th string 5th fret (D note) and moved your finger down to the 2nd string 5th fret and then down 3 frets to the 3rd fret you have the D note there as well.

Also remember that now you know the frets 1-12 - the notes repeat from 13 up to the end of your fretboard but remember to practice your notes up there as well. I'm not showing them on the diagrams but you need to practice the high notes as well.

Keep practicing and memorizing the fretboard it will come in handy for you.

Happy playing!