Advice for memorizing fretboard

[UberMetalDood]

I've been getting by all this time pretty much just relying on knowing all the open strings and every fret marker up the low E string. Whenever I play I'll look for the place on the low E where the scale mode begins and play from there.

I realize that it would be very beneficial to be able to play the 3 note-per-string mode pattern on each string. So let's say need to find C ionian on the B string then quicly be able to move to B Locrian or D Dorian on the same string, or any other note pattern on the adjacent strings, etc...

If that sounds confusing then basically it means that I have to think in whole modes at a time. For instance if I'm playing in C Maj, then I'll look for C Ionian on the E string and from there I look for D Dorian, E Phrygian, etc.., kind of working from the low E up.

This is a big limitation on my playing because I have to figure all my solos out in advance, or get familiar with the position of whatever key/mode I'm playing before I can play in it.

Building chords inversions, forget about it. I have to find one note at at time because I'm not fluent enough with the fretboard to be able to identify chord patterns immediately.

If I need to find a note on the G string, I'll count up from open G until I find the place on the fretboard where the note I'm looking for is.

Don't laugh. I know this is a handicapped way to play but I haven't been playing that long and I am self-taught. That is why I want to learn the fretboard but GOD it's so BORING to try and remember the frets.

I already know the trick where you can find the same note by moving up 2 frets and skippin a string - like A 5th Fret Low E and A 7th fret D string, etc... but without a fluid way to move around within the modes on a per-per string basis, it's like having a bunch of sludge in your engine - you won't get anywhere fast.

So how can I become more fretboard fluent without excruciating boredom?

 

[PVFan]

Re: Advice for memorizing fretboard

One thing I do:

draw the fretboard and make copies

then, whenever the urge strikes, or if you're bored, or sittin on the can, grab a copy and put dots to mark whatever scale, group of notes, or thing you want to learn, all over the whole fretboard. Then go practice playing, look at the copy and limit yourself to the dots.

repeat whenever, grab a a copy and pick a scale or determine some grouping based on whatever you're interested in that day, or something you heard that caught your fancy,
and after doing that however many times lots of things start sinking in!!!

 

[cronnin]

Re: Advice for memorizing fretboard

Find a partner.
It's more important to actually hear all in your head, then just to memorize the fretboard.
It doesn't work if you only play scales, you get saturated after a while (year or two).
You need to hear intervals.

He is playing like Cmajor (16x)/ Gmajor (16x)rhythm
and you're doing Ionian: c-d-e-f-g-a-b-c / g-a-b-c-d-e-f#-g
then from Dorian : d-e-f-g-a-b-c-d/ a-b-c-d-e-f#-g
etc. Through all modes, all combinations of modes, through all scales, with different rhythm chord intervals
Try to HEAR the difference. Play slow, you're not exercising technique, but perfecting your ear.

When you get the feel try to improvise something.
After couple of minutes switch. You play rhythm, he plays solo.

If you can't find help, utilize GP or something like Fender G-DEC.
You should do some kind of ear training every day, for like half an hour, and after several months you will notice the difference.

 

[UberMetalDood]

Re: Advice for memorizing fretboard

Find a partner.
It's more important to actually hear all in your head, then just to memorize the fretboard.
It doesn't work if you only play scales, you get saturated after a while (year or two).
You need to hear intervals.

He is playing like Cmajor (16x)/ Gmajor (16x)rhythm
and you're doing Ionian: c-d-e-f-g-a-b-c / g-a-b-c-d-e-f#-g
then from Dorian : d-e-f-g-a-b-c-d/ a-b-c-d-e-f#-g
etc. Through all modes, all combinations of modes, through all scales, with different rhythm chord intervals
Try to HEAR the difference. Play slow, you're not exercising technique, but perfecting your ear.

When you get the feel try to improvise something.
After couple of minutes switch. You play rhythm, he plays solo.

If you can't find help, utilize GP or something like Fender G-DEC.
You should do some kind of ear training every day, for like half an hour, and after several months you will notice the difference.

I don't have anyone to play with right now, and I don't know if I have time either, but this should be something I can do by my self using a recorder right?

I'm not sure I understand ear training. I have heard there are specific ways of ear training. How exactly do you do it?

As far as music theory goes I'm fairly knowledgeable. I know about intervals, chord inversion, parallel keys, etc..., and I know all of the modal scale patterns and pentatonic patterns. Right now I'm just shifting those patterns up and down the E string depending on which key I'm in.

I do need ear training though because I can't keep up with key changes without pre-arranging everything. The question is, how exactly do I setup a regimine for ear training that's effective?

 

[cronnin]

Re: Advice for memorizing fretboard

One of the best software products I've found is EarMaster 5 Pro.
Try it, you'll be delighted.

You simply have to know to identify all intervals by ear when you hear them.
That's first thing to master. Then you the same that with chords.
Interval is two simultaneous tones, and chord is (at least) three tones played simultaneous.

Almost everyone can identify major from minor.
But it would be OK to know to identify their inversions, diminished, augmented, maj, 7-ths, etc. by ear.
That would help develop your 'relative hearing'.

I've found out (doesn't have to be right though) that it's much easier to reach 'absolute hearing' if you know how to write music.
Some simple software like Jayde Musica can help.
I think that unregistred version doesn't actually let you hear the notes, and that is of utmost importance.
Anyway, you got the idea, so you know what to look for.
That's oriented on developing your 'absolute hearing'.

Take a look at Metallica "Last Caress". James strikes C5 and begins to sing high G at the same time (nowdays they're drop tuning that )
To be able to do that you must have a good 'absolute hearing'.
Singing is much easier today, because someone can get intonation through those wireless earplugs before he starts singing.
But throughout the history it was a must for a vocalist or any kind of musician to develop a 'perfect pitch'.
You simply look at the note (on the music sheet, piano or fretboard) and you just hear it in your head.

There's a legend that Mozart was able to hear polyphonic melody with like 9 different voices singing at the same time and to write it down later.
When they asked him, how he did it, he said "Easy. I was listening 4 tunes with my left ear and other 5 with my right".
It can probably be a true story, but he was one in a billion.

Alex Skolnick from Testament says :
" I think its safe to say I've acquired a developed sense of hearing. It's been very much helped by jazz studies at the New School.
Some of the teachers there were great pianists like Richie Beirach and Gerard D'Angelo who would drill me with these 'ear training' techniques, such as being able to pick out triads, chords and intervals instantly."
http://s11.zetaboards.com/Metallichicks/topic/795829/1/

Anyone who took solfeggio lessons in music school can help you with that.
But you have to work every day.
Half an hour every day training your ear, and other half on music theory.
You won't notice any difference immediately, but be patient. In a year or two you'll be a pro

Yes, you can do with a recorder, but it's not necessary to have one.
In fact people usually do this on piano.
You play a chord with your left hand, and then try to sing interval/melody/whatever you want.
After that you check it out on piano with your right hand

If you've never played piano, it may be easier to do it on the guitar neck.
Just play a single C tone and then try to sing F(4th) B(7th).
Before you start you can draw all the notes you'll be using on fretboard diagram like PVFan suggested.

You identify the scale you'll be exercising that particular evening.
Make a drawing, contemplate relations between tones. Notice some 'funky' intervals, and start playing chords and singing.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Advice for memorizing fretboard

I think that you're having trouble because you're starting too big. To start out with, just pick out the 1-3/b3-5 of the chord that you're currently playing over. Learn to find the arpeggio patterns all up and down the fretboard (you can try the 5 position CAGED patterns if you want, but there are other methods that can be used). Memorize the scale degree at each position as well. Once you have these patterns memorized start adding notes to the patterns slowly (7th, b7th, 6th, etc) and get a feel for them. Do practice drills over some chord progressions that you know and you'll automatically start learning the notes of the fretboard. The more practice and different progressions that you play over the more experience with this that you'll get. Eventually you'll be able to look at the fretboard and see the arpeggio patterns for the chords that you're playing over so the chord inversions will get a lot easier to spot. You'll also be able to pick out what notes you want to hear against a particular chord.

The other bit of advice . . . this will take a long time. Try doing 10 - 30 minute exercises each day, every day and expect that it'll take you a few years to absorb this to a high level.

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: Advice for memorizing fretboard

There are five shapes for each scale or modal scale you can learn.

When you learn where one joins into the another, you can find your way around based on where you are and where the scale shape leads you to another shape.