Learn The Names Of The Notes… All Over The Fretboard… In About 5 Minutes Per Day…
This is the single most important thing that you can do today to improve your guitar playing in all areas...
I was thinking about a question I often get asked… “what should I work on next?”
It’s so easy to get overwhelmed and work on a mixed bag of things. And it often makes it seem like you’re just spinning your wheels.
But there is one skill that you can develop – starting today – that will drastically improve your playing… you can learn the names of the notes on your guitar.
Funny story – I thought I knew my notes pretty well when I learned what you are about to see (I’d been playing guitar for over 15 years already!) I was wrong… waaaaaaay wrong.
There were all these “dead spots” in the neck that I didn’t know. Within a week of using this system I’m giving you today, all of those spots were gone and I noticed immediate improvement.
So why haven’t I shown you this before? Well, to be honest, you need to be ready for it. But by now you’ve done enough of the lessons that you know you need this. And that has to happen before I lay it in front of you.
So enjoy the video, it’s just under 7 minutes long. All of the downloads are below the player. But above all… make sure that you do this.
WOW!!…now.this really takes me back!!..i did EXACTLY what griff is doing in the video back in 1975-1976 , and i came up with the idea by myself. and i found the “single note” finding excerise is a great idea, it helps you to become a better lead Guitarist, i didnt know it at the time..but i really appreciate it now!! it so nice to see the exercise hasn’t died…yet….beginners take note!!….look (and listen) to Griff!!
How to say it…? Just and simply fantactically true. I love the way you teach it.
I hope a new day fines you in good health
I have just purchased a set of stickers for my guitar and it is so cluttered with other half notes and such it’s hard to see what your looking for
My question is could you please make a much more simple version
This lesson is a HAVE TO. You, as a guitarist have no choice. If your intellect is deprived it will show in your playing. JUST DO IT!
i have this video from 2 years ago in my music file. i also use PHAT PHISH. IT’S GREAT! HAS ALL THE SCALES IN DIFFERANT KEYS AND ALL 5 BOX’S IN MINOR , OR SHARP AND THE FRET BOARD LESSON. YOU CAN PLAY ALONG WITH. IT HAS A BEAT COUNTER ALSO .
will start today/now. thanks
Great lesson..should have been the first lesson, crawl, walk, then run..
Something I learned long ago and had not seen explained well until I bought the Soloing without Scales, I can recommend this course. Learning the note positions on the fretboard is a must, including above the 12th fret where the fretting is more difficult, helps develop the left hand.
what is the whole sequence ?
F,C,G,D,A,E,B,Gb,Db,Ab,Eb,Bb
If anyone is looking for a practice app. Found this online . I cover the note names on the left, with a sticky note placed on the computer screen. Site allows you to change number of frets,etc as you progress. Nice for random note generation and confirmation. Thanks Griff
http://classic.musictheory.net/81
Great…
thank”s grifif ; on my way to lerning note”s ..it”s a big heartell..
on the video “Learning Note Names, I could not tell which finger is pressing the E string 8th fret, A string 3rd fret, D string 10th fret, G string 5th fret, B string 1st fret, E string 8th fret. What is the fingering for C? Is the fingering the same G? Thank you.
I have been doing this exercise for quite some time when Griff mentioned it earlier but not mixing them up like from C to G etc. that is so much more melodic to practice to. also these exercises have opened up other new creative ways of moving around it seems they just pop out here and there . like tony the tiger says its GREAT. thanks so much Griff
seems like an interesting exercise and valid one to learn notes and where they are. Next correlate the letters with notes on a scale and what they look like.
Griff…I am amazed how you seem to know what area’s to cover in your e-mails.I am a student of your lesson’s and doing pretty good.Keep up the good work you are a master.Gene
Thanks as always, Griff for simplifying this concept for me. Didn’t have a structure for practice. I was just randomly doing notes on each string.
It’s really funny, I’ve now seen this exercise from you 3 or 4 times, and I always start off trying to get through it, but I never ever get completion. Because suddenly, something else comes into view.Be it a new lick, new ways to make scales sound musical, new ways to create a stunning solo etc. Now I’m not going to promise that this time I’ll complete the exercise, but I’ll give it a shot. Until!!!!>
Thanks Griff; good exercise.
thanks for the lesson. I appreciate one thing to practice daily that creates overall improvement. I already have the BGU v.2 and am working , but I get distracted with much going on while retired. surprise. My wish is to become accomplished guitar player. I love your lessons and your openness. thank-you.
Mahalo Griff Ive been wanting to learn this for awhile. This is the way
I find that learning fret-board relationships much more intuitive…
First you learn the 6th & 5th strings by rote
When you remember that the guitar strings are tuned to Perfect 4ths comparing to the string just below {in pitch] to the next (exception: B string is a Major 3rd), from the G string), then this sets up fixed relationships all over the FB.
For strings 3 thru 6, Root on the lower string, relates to an octave ( 2 strings higher [in pitch} & 2 frets higher, chromatically. This is fixed all over the FB.
The first string you already know since it is the same as the sixth, only 2 octaves higher.
The only thing left to learn is the 2nd string (inconsistently tuned differently from the rest of the strings). I say, just learn that string on it’s own. But obviously, there is a relationship to other ‘known’ strings. Any note on the 2nd string relates to a lower octave, 3 strings lower {in pitch) & 2 frets higher chromatically.
Hence, if you know all the notes on strings 6 & 5, you also know all the other notes on the other strings by way their inherent fixed relationships.
Easy!
Totally agree. The relationships are key otherwise you are simply memorizing which for me is not nearly as effective.
thank you for this, I’m giving it a shot
Will start this today
Since each string covers an octave up to the 12th fret, each note name occurs somewhere on each string.
It helps to know your CAGED chord forms. Actually, you only need C, A and E and the location of their root notes.
E shape coves the same note name on the 1st, 4th and 6th strings.
C shape covers the note on the 5th and 2nd strings.
A shape has the same root note on the 5th string and the root on the 3rd string.
Here you are relating the notes to where they occur in a chord shape in a general area instead of moving back and forth up and down the neck.
Example: C barre chord at 8th fret (E shape) gives you 3 C’s: 6th,4th and 1st strings.
Open C chord shape at 3rd fret has 2 C’s: 5th and 2nd strings.
A shape C chord at 3rd fret has the C at the 5th and 3rd strings.
3 Chord shapes = the same root note on all 6 strings.
I encourage you to also follow Griff’s exercise. As he always says, “The more ways you can look at something the better off you will be.”
I have something now I can work with. Admittedly, trying to learn the notes on the neck can be a but trying if you don’t have a system. Now, I can work towards something .
Thanks Griff !
Thanks, Griff. This is GREAT LEARNING TECHNIQUE! I use it every day. There’s also an app that points to a random note on the fretboard and it gives you about eight multiple choice answers. What’s your take on it? PS Your instruction and courses are WONDERFUL!!!!
Great stuff! Finally learning where they fall on the fret board.
Playing the notes on each string is a great basic way to memorize the fretboard!!! , thanks, Griff
L
Griff is all some teachers learn basic and his techniques i allways started at the top nown learn start bottom work my way up 2 top
This has kept me back for to long. I have to start this process.Ive been trying to learn guitar for four years now.But still don’t know the neck at all.
[…] is the Learning Note Names video, and all of the other courses can be found on the Course […]
I’m a much better guitarist than I sound!😳
Hey Griff,
This is a great lesson & refresher. I purchased Soloing Without Scales back in 2014 and use the Lesson 6 all the time as a guide even though I learn’t all of it, my memory let’s me down from time to time. I have a page for each of the Notes highlighted in colour, so I can go straight to that page per Key.. Truly this is the best lesson.
Michael-Sydney-Australia- 1 May 2017
Whatever you want to share with us is fine with me !!! I look forward to hearing from you, you always have a great video to share !!!
In 1969 I bought a Yamaha Red Letter 180.The next 40+ years I was a 3-4 chord banger,then I decided to learn the guitar.Three years ago came across Griff.I bought some of his lessons and realized I needed to learn the notes.I made a 3ft fret board I leaned against my coffee table in front of my chair.I learned the blues scales patterns and positions.Then I went crazy with all these notes-keys-scale positions.Then I saw it.The 6-4-2-5-3 rule.6th str 1st pos / 4thstr 2nd pos/ 2nd str 3 pos / 5th str 4th pos / 3 str 5th pos. Example-Key of D 3rd pos – 2nd string 3rd fret.Key of C 5th position – 3rd string 5th fret.I found that for me this works on every scale I’ve seen.For me learning the notes was key.Thank You Griff from a 73 year old – 3 fingered – arthritic future blues picker.
Griff you always hit the right spot when it comes to reacquainting a learner with the need to knows. I was both interested and confused by some of the comments made by others. You are the tutor who explains things so succinctly every time. Keep up the great work Griff.
Doing that lesson would be helpful but I think a person should learn the note patterns for each string.For example if you were on the D string you would have D open E second fret F 3rd fret and so on to the 12th fret,
This is the best lesson. Thank you
thanks Griff – you’ve mentioned this exercise previously but its application has been sidetracked for me by other ‘stuff’ – holding the pick so it doesn’t roll around, little chords and just playing.
I’ll follow up on this and cheers.
A good thought. I will work on it. I always wanted to learn all the notes on the neck. This will be a good way to start.
This is a great exercise. There is also an app called “Fretuoso” that makes a game out of learning the notes.
I have looked for years for a “method” for learning the notes on the fretboard. I know some of them, from experience, but not enough to play them at 60 bpm, and go from one note to another, to another. This REALLY helps! Thank you Griff!
My trick for learning the notes requires a little elementary math. Since there are 12 notes, the numbers 5 and 7 or 8 and 4 or key.
Locate note on E string (C -8th fret).
For the same note on the A String Subtract 5. If the # is greater than zero and thus positive, that is the fret ( 8-5=3).
For the same note on the D string, subtract 5. If the # is positive, that is the fret (3-5=-2). Since the # is negative, that is not the fret. Now you have to add 7 to the # (3+7=10). Therefore the C note on the D string is at fret 10.
For the same note on the G string, subtract 5. If the # is positive, that is the fret (10-5=5) Therefore the the C note on the G string is on fret 5.
For the B string, you subtract 4 this time instead of 5. Therefore 5-4=1. The C note is at fret 1 on the B string. Anytime you are going from teh G string to teh B string, you 4 an 8 instead of 5 and 7. Just the way it goes!!!
For the little e, the math goes back to the subtract 5 or add 7. If you subtract 5, (1-5=-4). since it is a negative #, you add 7 so you get 1+7=8. Of course you already knew that it was going to be on the eighth fret since the notes are the same on both the Big E and little e strings.
So the method is either subtract 5 or add 7 to all the strings except for the B string. There it requires subtracting 4 or adding 8. Anytime you subtract the 5 or 4 an get a number of Zero or less, you add the 7 or 8 to get the fret you are looking for.
In the case of a A note, which is on the 5th fret of the Big E string, if you subtract 5, that would give you a Zero. Thus you would need to add 7 to the 5 to get 12. Therefore the A note is on the 12th fret of the A string. Granted, the open A string is an A note, but Griif said to use the 12 fret for the A note in this exercise and not use open strings.
This method has help me.
Great, have started.
This is great. As a beginner this is what I need to find the notes.
You make it easier to understand.
Thanks griff.
This is a great exercise and almost how I learned the notes on the fretboard. I stared my journey by learning the the fret numbers for all natural notes in sequence from String six ti string one. For example A: 5, 12, 7, 2, 9, 5; B: 7, 2, 9, 4, 12, 7. I had all the notes done in a week.
I the stared to play the notes using the memorized fret numbers as a reference but there was no flow until I discovered that I should look at next note when I play the current note. The I got a great flow and all the notes where memorized in one and a half week so I could play them all in 70 Bpm. After two and a half week I could play the all the notes in 80 Bpm.
When I started the process of learning the notes on the fretboard my friend thought it was better to use an app and pointing on the notes on a fretboard on the screen. After he had try this in 4 weeks he could still not find the notes on the real fetboard so he finally decided to try my method and the result was that he learned all the notes in the same time as me.
My conclusion of this is that there is no shortcuts over computer based learning systems. So my recommendation to all of you that think it’s easier to learn the notes on the fretboard with an app. Don’t fall in to this trap. Use Griff’s solution and maybe in combination with my solution.
Works for me!
Still recuperating from my wreck. My neurosurgeon said that getting back at my guitar might be an excellent way to recover my motor skills. It’s frustrating so far but this exercise seems like a great place to start. Thanks Griff
sounds going to put it to use today.. thanks Griff enjoy your lessons..
Great Jeff this was Kool thanks buddy I wish getin my fingerings up on the neck want 2 learn thanks jeff.p.s keep,going thanks again .
First you learn it then you forget then you go back and try to remember it. With amount of notes I play I would need a computer running while I run up and down the neck. Next he might teach you how to mix scales. Yes he has done that also.
Box I Box 4 Box 5 Etc.
As Griff teaches it.
Memorise it then move on to the single notes Again as Griff teaches it.
Great tool for those who are just getting started.
Keep the lessons coming.
I began taking lessons a month ago (like the 8th time in some 46 years) with the teacher coming here to my home and he gave both myself 1/2 hr. and then myself, another half hr. Cost was 60.00 for an hour. The teacher wasn’t The Great Communicator) and we stopped after two lessons. I’ve been signed up with Griff for a year now and his lessons are by far, much better. Griff is the perfect teacher. But, you have to follow and get a laptop set in front of you and a remote control would be handy. So, I guess at TV would be better. Either way, Griff’s lessons are as good as you use them. But he’s the go-to guy. No regrets buying his videos. No more lessons unless I have specifics that he doesn’t cover. And I’ll be dead and gone before I get to that point in time.