| I did Octave jumps to start with.
I'll play a note, then it's octave (2 strings "up" and 2 frets to the right), and say the name of each note. Like this (excuse the tab):
G|---------------------|
D|---2----3-----4----5|
A|---------------------|
E|-0----1----2-----3--|
As you play the notes, say each note, so to play the above, you would play and say "E, E, F, F, F#, F#, G, G". Go at least up to the 12th fret (of the low note). From there, it repeats (12th fret E string is E etc).
If you play the octaves with a 1-3-2-4 finger pattern (fretting hand) and to a metronome, you can work on 3 things at once - fretboard knowledge, fingering, and timing.
Once I get to the 12th fret I will come back down and name the flat notes on the way down.
After a while I realised that the notes are always in the same place in relation to each other so no matter where you play a G note, B, C and D will always be in the same position in relation to G.
Once I realised that relationship I started drilling more arpeggio's in my daily practice. I still only do a basic set up the fretboard but it's better than what I was doing 12 months ago LOL! (ie, no theory study at all!), and apparantly (according to the material I have on arpeggio's) I am improving my triad knowledge as well, but I don't see any results of that yet.
In the end, provided you take note of which notes you are playing while you practice, any exercise you do will help build your fretboard knowledge. It's when you "just play" that you miss all nuances of this instrument. I know, I "played" for ten years before I chose to really start learning to play.
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Last edited by Depth_Charge : 12-31-2007 at 10:03 PM.
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