Any tips for learning the notes on the fretboard?

[mezzio]

So here's the thing. I know how to read music, but I don't know the notes on a guitar. All I really remember about why I don't know the notes is once I discovered Tabs, I didn't care too.

I'm now getting to the point where I'd like to know the notes so I can read the music instead of relying on tabs. Anyone have any tips on what I can do to get them memorized?

 

[László]

When I was studying bass, my teacher had me play each note on every string and call out the note. It was difficult at first, but eventually I was able to do it.

While there may be other, better ways of doing it, that way was certainly effective.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Just memorize the patterns of E Phrygian, A Aeolian, and D Dorian mode, and by default you'll know the patterns of all the other modes if you can play connect the dots... Then it's like you've learned all the whole tone notes, just like all the notes that are the white keys on a piano.

 

[mezzio]

Just memorize the patterns of E Phrygian, A Aeolian, and D Dorian mode, and by default you'll know the patterns of all the other modes if you can play connect the dots... Then it's like you've learned all the whole tone notes, just like all the notes that are the white keys on a piano.

Ahh, I guess this was a good purchase then ill give it a shot and see how it goes

 

[Orange Tiger]

I feel like I'm in the same situation. My theory and notes knowledge is nowhere near where it should be given the amount of time I've been playing.

 

[NomadMike]

Anyone have any tips on what I can do to get them memorized?

The main tip is really mostly practice.
The notes on a guitar repeat (the open e, is also found on the b string 5th fret, third string 9th fret, fourth string 14th fret, and so on) so one practice technique is to play the same line (same octave) of music at different positions of the neck. Another is to play the same line of music on each string but using only one string at a time.

Sergio's suggestion about the modes also helps as you visual have an idea of what notes are available for a certain key at a certain place on the neck.

 

[mezzio]

I feel like I'm in the same situation. My theory and notes knowledge is nowhere near where it should be given the amount of time I've been playing.

Id say as far as music theory goes, I think I've got it down, I'm rusty because of the amount of time I haven't been looking at anything music related, but even today I found its coming back pretty quick. My issue is not know where what notes are where on a fretboard. I was never a piano player, so I can't even really use key knowledge and bump it up against a fretboard either... I know where Middle C is on a keyboard, that's about it, lol.

The Guitar Grimoire book I bought will definitely help I think, it has every scale imaginable, patterns, modes, etc, and even shows the scale on a keyboard as well.

The main tip is really mostly practice.
The notes on a guitar repeat (the open e, is also found on the b string 5th fret, third string 9th fret, fourth string 14th fret, and so on) so one practice technique is to play the same line (same octave) of music at different positions of the neck. Another is to play the same line of music on each string but using only one string at a time.

Sergio's suggestion about the modes also helps as you visual have an idea of what notes are available for a certain key at a certain place on the neck.

Just before I posted my last post I picked up my daughters beginner guitar book, I feel kinda silly playing Ode to Joy and Mary had a Little Lamb, but I've been doing it thinking more along the terms of what Les suggested, just going through saying the notes out loud.

While I'm learning notes, I'm also being required to learn more chords. I recently signed up for Guitars for Vets, and my instructor is really pushing for me to learn and memorize more than the "core chords" everyone learns in the beginning (C, G, Em, Am, D).... at least I have someone pushing me to get it done though.

I think all these suggestions will help out, so thank you everyone Hopefully ill have it down in a week or so, lol, just wish I would have done this 20 years ago instead of going the easy route and following Tabs.

 

[rugerpc]

When I was studying bass, my teacher had me play each note on every string and call out the note. It was difficult at first, but eventually I was able to do it.

While there may be other, better ways of doing it, that way was certainly effective.

This is the same method preferred by my instructor.