fretboard memorization

Chipsonfire · #1 08-03-2007, 01:03 PM

So I'm having trouble learning where the notes are on the fretboard and couldn't find anything to help me using the search. There's some kind of mental block for me and I'm not sure what it is. I have a notated fretboard printed out, but I also know that there is a distinct difference between memorizing the fretboard and knowing it. Anyone know of any good ways to have this sink in? I know there are patterns in it, I see tons of them, but this still doesn't really help. If you can show me a guide or give me some practices to help me I would greatly appreciate it

Yes, I realize I am capable of googling something myself, but I would much rather use a tried and true method as opposed to something that popped up in google. Thanks a lot for any responses

troy mcclure · #2 08-03-2007, 01:16 PM

I used a sharpie on my maple fretboard......j/k.

Depends on how you learn:
My teacher told me to say the notes name as you play them.
Repetition helps with retention.

louieeadg · #3 08-03-2007, 01:17 PM

www.studybass.com

Go to it. Learn it.

Basically you just haven't played and listened enough. Once you go to that site, you'll know what I'm talking about. Just go through the lessons slow and you'll learn a lot of things at once. The guy teaches his lessons very well.

louieeadg · #4 08-03-2007, 01:18 PM

and plus 5 to what troy said. Also, go to PacMan's sure fire scale method. That's how my bass teacher taught me scales. Its good shite!

Torch7 · #5 08-03-2007, 01:20 PM

I know this may be a bit obscure but knowing the circle of fifths, and fourths helped me to find notes on the neck, on my 5 string BASS.

Starting at the OPEN B string the pattern repeats itself down the entire neck...

B E A D G
C F Bb Eb Ab
Db Gb B E A
D G C F Bb
Eb Ab Db Gb B

If you remember those notes repeat all the way down the neck, and figure octave shapes, your hands will begin to find notes as you practice, practice, and practice some more.

Over time Automatically you will remember the 6th fret on the E string is Bb.

This is the way that worked for me, I'm sure someone will have a easier way.

ric1312 · #6 08-03-2007, 01:32 PM

IMO, the first thing to learn would be the circle of fifths around the fretboard. Then it becomes easy to find the notes next to the notes for the circle. You'll find a lot of songs play off of this anyway.

Here is a little exercise I do for memorization, probably a better way, but this is what I do.

1. Go over circle of fifths.
2. Say the notes out loud from left to right for each string.
3. Say the notes from left to right going from the E string up to the the G string. It always follows the same order, just a different starting point. (ADGCF A#D#G#C#F# BE)
4. Find all the octaves.

And of course when you figure out a song, even if its' using tab off the net, make it a point to figure out what the actual notes are.

I know next to no music theory, just the circle of fifths and a couple of major and minor scale patters, but knowing just this much has helped me to learn the fretboard pretty good.

wish I had the time to study theory a lot more, but the free time I do have is spent playing and learning/writing songs.

Chipsonfire · #7 08-03-2007, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troy mcclure

I used a sharpie on my maple fretboard......j/k.

Depends on how you learn:
My teacher told me to say the notes name as you play them.
Repetition helps with retention.

That's also what I've heard and am trying that, though admittedly not as much as I should.

Quote:

Originally Posted by louieeadg

www.studybass.com

Go to it. Learn it.

Basically you just haven't played and listened enough. Once you go to that site, you'll know what I'm talking about. Just go through the lessons slow and you'll learn a lot of things at once. The guy teaches his lessons very well.

I'm on there several hours a day and use it with all my practices. The fretboard seems to be the only thing not sinking in (possibly for the above reason).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torch7

I know this may be a bit obscure but knowing the circle of fifths, and fourths helped me to find notes on the neck, on my 5 string BASS.

Starting at the OPEN B string the pattern repeats itself down the entire neck...

B E A D G
C F Bb Eb Ab
Db Gb B E A
D G C F Bb
Eb Ab Db Gb B

If you remember those notes repeat all the way down the neck, and figure octave shapes, your hands will begin to find notes as you practice, practice, and practice some more.

Over time Automatically you will remember the 6th fret on the E string is Bb.

This is the way that worked for me, I'm sure someone will have a easier way.

I saw something very similar to that only it was A D G C F A# D# G# C# F# B E A and theres a little anecdote to help you remember it. I guess I just need to practice a LOT until it becomes muscle memory to see a Cb and have it fretted and ready to go.

Chipsonfire · #8 08-03-2007, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ric1312

And of course when you figure out a song, even if its' using tab off the net, make it a point to figure out what the actual notes are.

I know next to no music theory, just the circle of fifths and a couple of major and minor scale patters, but knowing just this much has helped me to learn the fretboard pretty good.

I used to transcribe tab to sheet music to help with that but when I asked about this, I was basically told by most TBers that it was a terrible idea and i should stop

I know a bit of music theory (took a small class on it) but knowledge and experience are two very different things

louieeadg · #9 08-03-2007, 01:44 PM

There's a section on there(studybass) about circle of fifths, cycle of fourths, etc.

Easiest thing is to not 'fret'. hehe...just keep playing and practicing your scales/modes/chords. You'll eventually hit yourself on the head one day and you'll wonder why you didn't pick it up sooner.

I started out doing everything in third position. Once I had a grasp of the scales/modes teacher said, alright, now you can play anything. Its like those magic eye pictures, the harder you look at it, the more frustrated you'll get. Just relax and listen...

cheers

**WillPlay4Food** · #10 08-03-2007, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chipsonfire

I used to transcribe tab to sheet music to help with that but when I asked about this, I was basically told by most TBers that it was a terrible idea and i should stop

I know a bit of music theory (took a small class on it) but knowledge and experience are two very different things

I wouldn't say transcribing TAB is bad (I wouldn't say transcribing anything is bad) but maybe whoever told you that was trying to get you to work on ear training by listening to a song, then transcribing what you hear?

Chipsonfire · #11 08-03-2007, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillPlay4Food

I wouldn't say transcribing TAB is bad (I wouldn't say transcribing anything is bad) but maybe whoever told you that was trying to get you to work on ear training by listening to a song, then transcribing what you hear?

If that's what was meant, it certainly wasn't communicated well

In any case, when I hear a note I have NO IDEA what note it is, so that is going to have to come later after I get some more ear training under my belt.

musicmansf · #12 08-03-2007, 02:38 PM

Screw the technical stuff! Turn off the lights at night and only have your amp lights or a distant room light as your only way to see the fretboard and then start trying to figure stuff out

Be Patient, Wait it out...it'll hit ya sooner or later

steve66 · #13 08-03-2007, 02:57 PM

New way to practice?

Chipsonfire · #14 08-03-2007, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve66

New way to practice?

Ack, I totally forgot about this. Thanks for bringing that back up

Also, modes are kind of confusing me, I've never run across them until I started playing bass. Are the different modes just the same scale (and corresponding notes) starting on a different note? For example, the Ionian for C major would be C D E F G A B while the Mixolydian would be G A B C D E F? I understand that having them go in a different order will give a different feel and that's what distinguishes one from another (unless I'm mistaken, if so please correct me).

alexei · #15 08-03-2007, 03:50 PM

i learned the easy way: WITH PATIENCE.

learn 3 notes one day.... 3 notes tomorrow.... 3 more notes the day after... and so on.

Focus first in the natural tones, not flats nor sharps... leave those for the last.

but the importante part is NO MORE THAN 3 per day. (can be 2 if you want).

That's the way i did it, worked like sweet.

DocBop · #16 08-03-2007, 04:17 PM

I would suggest playing C scale on one string and say the name of the notes as you play them. Like start on the E-string open E is the lowest note of the C scale so start with it and go up to the G at the 15th fret.

Play the C scale up and back slowly saying the note names as you go. Might take a couple days to get it down, but don't move on to another string until you can play a C-scale at a brisk tempo on one string. Then move to A string and repeat process.

This will drill in the notes and learning a scale on one string is a education in how a scale is constructed. Additionally it will help with learning to do shifts as you move up the neck. So this exercise can teach a lot.

Chipsonfire · #17 08-03-2007, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DocBop

I would suggest playing C scale on one string and say the name of the notes as you play them. Like start on the E-string open E is the lowest note of the C scale so start with it and go up to the G at the 15th fret.

Play the C scale up and back slowly saying the note names as you go. Might take a couple days to get it down, but don't move on to another string until you can play a C-scale at a brisk tempo on one string. Then move to A string and repeat process.

This will drill in the notes and learning a scale on one string is a education in how a scale is constructed. Additionally it will help with learning to do shifts as you move up the neck. So this exercise can teach a lot.

This sounds like an excellent idea; I'll combine it with my plucking and muting exercises and rhythm exercises so I get as much out of it as I can. I only have a few more weeks till I go back to a college/working schedule as opposed to just working

gre107 · #18 08-03-2007, 04:37 PM

The only way that you will memorize the fretboard is by having a mental picture of it in your head. You need to see the entire fretboard and the the notes on it.

To do this you need to know where all 12 notes are on each string.

To start take the highest note on your bass e.g. Eb on your G string. Then find where the other Eb's on the G string are. Then find them on your D, A and E strings (From Highest to lowest)

You now should play EACH Eb on your bass from Highest to lowest and then lowest to highest. Play them in quarter/eighth notes at a slow meter at first then increase the speed.

Practice this for a week then move to the next highest note and do the same.

By doing this, in 12 weeks (3 months) you will know where all of the notes on the fret board are. And you will be able to play them on command!

Playing scales will only teach you where the notes are relative to eachother and not where they are on the fret board! By the end of this study you will have the mental picture of the fret board in your head and the notes!

All the best!

G

ric1312 · #19 08-03-2007, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gre107

The only way that you will memorize the fretboard is by having a mental picture of it in your head. You need to see the entire fretboard and the the notes on it.

To do this you need to know where all 12 notes are on each string.

To start take the highest note on your bass e.g. Eb on your G string. Then find where the other Eb's on the G string are. Then find them on your D, A and E strings (From Highest to lowest)

You now should play EACH Eb on your bass from Highest to lowest and then lowest to highest. Play them in quarter/eighth notes at a slow meter at first then increase the speed.

Practice this for a week then move to the next highest note and do the same.

By doing this, in 12 weeks (3 months) you will know where all of the notes on the fret board are. And you will be able to play them on command!

Playing scales will only teach you where the notes are relative to eachother and not where they are on the fret board! By the end of this study you will have the mental picture of the fret board in your head and the notes!

All the best!

G

I really like this one, going to adopt it myself

DocBop · #20 08-03-2007, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gre107

The only way that you will memorize the fretboard is by having a mental picture of it in your head. You need to see the entire fretboard and the the notes on it.

To do this you need to know where all 12 notes are on each string.

To start take the highest note on your bass e.g. Eb on your G string. Then find where the other Eb's on the G string are. Then find them on your D, A and E strings (From Highest to lowest)

You now should play EACH Eb on your bass from Highest to lowest and then lowest to highest. Play them in quarter/eighth notes at a slow meter at first then increase the speed.

Practice this for a week then move to the next highest note and do the same.

By doing this, in 12 weeks (3 months) you will know where all of the notes on the fret board are. And you will be able to play them on command!

Playing scales will only teach you where the notes are relative to eachother and not where they are on the fret board! By the end of this study you will have the mental picture of the fret board in your head and the notes!

All the best!

G

I would disagree with that. Learn a C scale you are learning where all the natural notes on the neck and the other fringe benefits I mentioned. If you know you natural notes it's real easy to think drop a fret to flat a note or up a fret to sharp it. IMO far easier to learn seven note than a sea of dots.

Now to testing yourself then doing things like how fast can you ID a specific note on the neck is good.