Fretboard and note recognition method...

[shooter]

I have been very focussed lately on learning all the note positions on the fretboard. I use a variety of techniques gleaned from various sources (including this forum) but what has really moved me forward is when three days ago I ...

...named my BASS 'GABE'

in fact I named it G A B C# E but kind of ignore the C# on the 9th fret (but I know its there cos I can see it)

How and why :
I used a label maker to place a tiny label on all the dot frets behind the neck. (I can still see the dots so they relate to the G A B C# E)

What this has done is give me a very visual "memory anchor" at the E string from where I can quickly , mentally map the rest of the keyboard by the basic patterns of the chromatic scale and the sequence of notes.

eg I know EADG is the open strings and it is the same at the 12th fret. I know BEAD is at the 7th fret . I know the entire chromatic scale on the E string ...so already that was a lot of fretboard notes that I had sorted.

Filling in the rest is real easy from this base

A few other little things I had learned previously really helps in this as well. eg string tuning at 7th fret, octave spacing , a couple of major scales etc.

I also practise with a full fretboard map open in front of me that I can cross check myself as a little test.

With the little GAB*E thing I can easily mentally visualise and learn my notes even without the BASS in my hands.(like in bed at night) I even notice that I am naming notes as I play little riffs and musical exercises.

Works for me. Hope fully of value to someone else.

BYW - I hate having the 5 little stickers defacing my bass but thats incentive to get the task done asap

[Stealth]

Sounds like a decent method of getting it all memorized. I used to use the old C-dot approach and plant small stickers on every C note on the fretboard, but as you said, it defaces the bass some.

[UncleBalsamic]

That's a pretty good idea. Thanks!

[shooter]

FWIW

To further help with the GAB*E thing , I use the following info by memorising it.

(It helped me a lot to visualise this stuff.)

- There are two notes between each string at the same fret position ie. E fg A bc D ef G

- Two strings down (thick to thinner) and two frets right is an octave - this is a pattern for anywhere

- Five frets right and one string up (thinner to thicker) = same note

- ABCDEFG forward and backwards. (Backwards is not natural to us and harder to do so I really focussed on this)

- the notes BC and EF are a "special" relationship and worth visualising (remembering)

Object of learning all the note positions for me is to learn where the ROOT is from where I think everything "music" starts. Correct me if I am wrong but if one knows the root of any chord, one can play the bass (simply).

Key to this is "mapping my brain" by use of visualisation and association.

Other stuff - I practice everything (scales, triads etc) to a drum machine with various beats and tempos so I learn "music,groove and feel" all at the same time.

Keen to know if this helps anone else and acknowledge it probably aint for everone.


BTW - the defacing of my bass is subtley hidden at the top of the back of the neck just below the dots. I feel it is important to be able to see both which relates the dot to the note on the E string. Only I can see them but they will go when the time is right to move on...