Learning All of the C Major Notes on the Guitar
A useful framework for understanding all of the notes on the guitar fretboard is to first learn the all of the naturalA note that is unaltered by sharp or flat; i.e., one of the notes of the C major scale: C,D,E,F,G,A or B. notes in every position. This is useful because you will always know where F♯ is, so long as you know where F is. The accidentalAny named note whose pitch is modified by a sharp (♯) or flat (♭) symbol. This even includes notes that are returned to a non-sharp or non-flat by the natural symbol (♮). notes are named for their relationship to the nearest naturalA note that is unaltered by sharp or flat; i.e., one of the notes of the C major scale: C,D,E,F,G,A or B. note. By combining notes together and learning them in a single stroke, your mastery of the guitar will come more quickly and with less effort.
Learning The Scale Positions
If you haven’t already studied the C major notes in many different positions, now is not the time to tackle the entire fretboard. Learning to play the C major scale in all twelve positions is the first step you need to take. you’ll want to completely master the seven diatonic scale patterns in C major before undertaking this next step. (Note: linked patterns are in G major.)
Combining The Scale Positions
The next step to memorizing the C major notes is to combine the scale positions. Practice multi-position scales, such as playing your way up C ionian, switching positions on the fourth string or third string, and continuing through to C dorian. This is similar to playing the three note per string scale patterns, except now we’re consciously emphasizing the connecting point between scales.
Understanding the Scale Positions
In addition to playing multi-position scales, we'll also break through this barrier by applying the scales in a number of ways that will force us to remember the names of the notes.
- Play the scales up and down while naming the notes.
- Optionally, play the scales up and down while singing the solfegeA system of hearing musical relationships by assigning nicknames to scale degrees. The first note is do, the second re, and so forth. syllables for each degree.
- Study the arpeggios within each scale position—for C major chords only, at least at first.
- For each fret within the position, name all of the notes going across strings.
- For each scale position, find and play every note: first find and play every “F”, then every “C” and the like.
Visualizing the Whole Fretboard
Once you’ve mastered the single-position scale patterns and pushed into multi-position territory, you’re ready to apply yourself to the task of memorizing all of the C major scale notes on the entire fretboard.
How to Study
Learning the notes on the entire fretboard is similar to learning the positions. You must apply yourself to study and exercises which require you to name the notes. Merely executing patterns and shapes will make it harder. Practice naming the notes on each fret, multi-position, 3-octave scales and multi-position, 3-octave arpeggio patterns.
As the creator of Hub Guitar, Grey has compiled hundreds of guitar lessons, written several books, and filmed hundreds of video lessons. He teaches private lessons in his Boston studio, as well as via video chat through TakeLessons.