How to Memorize a Guitar Fretboard
- 1). Identify the 12th fret on your guitar, which is commonly marked with two dots or bars on the fretboard. This fret is the octave to the open strings, meaning how notes are distinguished from lower and higher octaves of different pitch. Strum each of the open strings to hear the pitch. Place your index finger over the entire 12th fret and strum each string individually.
- 2). Locate the 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th frets between the 1st and 12th fret. These frets are also marked with dots or bars. Identify the notes on each of these marked frets.
- 3). Write down the string (6th string, E, for example), the fret (e.g., 7th fret), and the note (e.g., C#) for each fret and string between the 1st and 12th frets. Writing the string, fret, and note will create a visual and written connection to the fretboard. You may also draw a diagram of the fretboard and strings to mark the notes.
- 4). Locate frets 13 through 21, or whatever fret number your fretboard ends at. Fret 13 is the higher octave equivalent to fret 1. You will notice the notation repeats from the 13th fret and beyond.
- 5). Listen to these different notes in their different octaves. Record yourself playing all or various notes throughout the fretboard to strengthen listening skills. Play the recordings back through headphones or speakers and test your notation knowledge. Playback through speakers will allow you to play to your recordings. This also increases listening ability when hearing your favorite songs or beginning songwriting.
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