Fun Way To Build Musical Knowledge, Fretboard Navigation and Lead Guitar Skills For Beginner To Intermediate Guitarists
Dhanesh Sarangadharan - 18th April 2019
One of the most ignored aspects of guitar practice, especially by beginner guitar players is studying the fretboard and using it musically. The solution to this problem is also a simple one, and can be used effectively by any one.
Instead of learning notes on different frets as an exercise, it’s far more interesting to learn the notes in a way that can be used to create music easily.
Do you need any musical knowledge to do this?
Not really, you just need to be familiar with the notes in Music i.e. C D E F G A B, and you should be familiar with reading Guitar TAB
How will it help?
This will not only help develop your fingerboard knowledge in the first position, but will also help with your musical knowledge and aural skills. This will help you memorize the location of notes in the first position on the guitar while enhancing your lead guitar skills.
What is the exercise?
Click Here For Major Scale Layouts in the First position
We’ll now play through the Major scales starting from the notes C, G, D, A, E, B and F# using this TAB
Your goal is to play the notes of each of these scales in the first position, including the open strings, both ascending and descending
Start and end every scale on the root note (Starting note) of the scale as displayed in the TAB
Sing the notes of the scale loudly while playing it, e.g. While playing the C Major scale, sing the notes C, D, E, F etc. while you play them
Do not rush through the scales once you memorize the fingerboard pattern for each scale, the real value of this lesson is in playing the scales slowly and listening to the sound of the scales with utmost attention.
Use alternate picking when you play 2 notes on the same string
Be patient with this exercise, as you go along you’ll find that it’s very easy and you’ll already start sounding more musical, no matter what level you are at.
As a bonus exercise, draw or print a fretboard diagram, and try to recall the location of these notes in the first position (1st to 5th Fret region)
If you are someone who understands how the Major Scale is built, then write down the notes of these Major scales on one string at a time, e.g. write notes of G Major scale on the 1st String, and then play the scale. Repeat this exercise for other scales and on other strings.
If you are familiar with Minor scales, then play these layouts starting on both Major and Minor Roots.
Repeat step no 10 for Minor Scales also
Goals
Memorize the notes in the first position and observing the sound of notes as and when the scale changes.
Have fun playing these scales as this will be the first step towards freely expressing yourself on the Guitar
Do this exercise as many number of times as possible
Don’t play all the scales in one session, log your practice and continue with the next scale during the next practice session.
Focus and play this slow, don’t mindlessly run through the pattern once you have played it a few times.
This could be a relaxation and warm-up exercise in future for you.
About The Author:
Dhanesh Sarangadharan is a certified guitar teacher from Pune,Maharashtra India, who is passionate about coaching students to progress faster on Guitar.
If you are looking for Expert Guitar lessons in Pune, and guidance to advance on guitar faster, then click on https://www.guitarteacherpune.com/freeintro and book a Free Trial Lesson Now.