A good visual memorization of all the notes on the fretboard is the
best starting point (especially if one decides to start again from the DAEGAB),
at least for what concerns the 6th, 5th and 4th string, because, especially at
the beginning, the fundamental chords tones will be found most of all on these
three strings. Consequently, here are some charts that graphically represent the
guitar's fretboard with the notes' placements on it; plus, a useful summary for
the memorization of the notes on the fretboard even without images and finally a
test and some suggestions to verify all we have learned.
Where are the notes on the
fretboard
The 5 notes of every
fret
(Note: the second and the fifth string have the same
note, an octave away)
The following outline is useful to locate by memory the position of
every note on the fretboard.
If you like, you may keep it in your pocket and use it in those
moments in which you have no access to a guitar....while you stand in line at
the post-office, or wait for the bus, in your physician's waiting room (or, if
you are really a fanatic, in between sets of a jazz concert you are attending
!!)....things like that, but it's worth.
The notes to be visualized are listed in an ascending circle of
fifths, but may be memorized following your favorite order. The roman numeral
corresponds to the fret, while the arabic numeral corresponds to the string (or
the strings). The number 0 indicates the open string.
C: I, 1; III, 2, 5; V, 3; VIII, 4; X,
6; XIII, 1.
G: 0, 3; III, 4; V, 6; VIII, 1; X, 2, 5; XII, 3.
D: 0, 6; III, 1; V, 2, 5; VII, 3; X,
4; XII, 6.
A: 0, 2, 5; II, 3; V, 4; VII, 6; X,
1; XII, 2, 5.
E: 0, 4; II, 6; V, 1; VII, 2, 5; IX,
3; XII, 4.
B: 0, 1; II, 2, 5; IV, 3; VII, 4; IX,
6; XII, 1.
Gb/F#: II, 4; IV, 6; VII, 1; IX, 2,
5; XI, 3.
Db/C#: II, 1; IV, 2, 5; VI, 3; IX, 4;
XI, 6.
Ab/G#: I, 3; IV, 4; VI, 6; IX, 1; XI,
2, 5; XIII, 3.
Eb/D#: I, 6; IV, 1; VI, 2 5; VIII, 3;
XI, 4; XIII, 6.
Bb/A#: I, 2, 5; III, 3; VI, 4; VIII,
6; XI, 1; XIII, 2, 5.
F: I,4; III, 6; VI, 1; VIII, 2, 5; X,
3; XIII, 4.
And now some questions you may ask yourselves, to put yourselves to
the test, and some suggestions:
1) Where is the note x (your choice)
all over the fretboard ?
2) Which five notes are found on the x fret ?
3)
Which notes are on the x string ?
4) Where's the x note on the x fret
(provided it is there)?
5) Where is the x note on the x string ?
6)
Visualize an x scale on one string only.
7) Visualize an x scale in position
*
8) Visualize an arpeggio on one string only.
9) Visualize an arpeggio
in position *
10) Visualize a chord, possibly in all inversions and in as
many positions as possible *
* visualize without fingering; these
are exercises that you'll be able to do later on, because I will show you the
fingerings of chords, scales and arpeggios, etc., anyway.
In the next lesson we'll get to the
visualization of intervals on the fretboard, so that we'll be able to finally
get to work "hands on " and begin to get our fingers used to the new way of
fingering the intervals. Once learned that, it will already be possible to
reproduce (on guitar) any simple melodies that might linger in our
mind.
LESSONS INDEX
