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Get yourself a good echo pedal or software (depending on what your rig is). And set it up so you can play Brian May style 3 note harmonies. (2 repeating notes).
Then 'move' a 3 note chord from the lowest possible place on the lowest string to the highest possible place on the highest string, and back down again. So you work up and down the whole fretboard.
eg to learn the location of notes E, G, & B (which is an Em chord). Play the lowest E note on the thickest string, and then on the repeat you move up and play the next closest G note, and then on the next repeat you play the next closest B note. Keeping the harmony going as you move up the fretboard on each repeat.
If you make a mistake and play a wrong note you will know about it!
Something like this (skip to 2m 18s):
You can impress people because it sounds like you are doing loads of complicated stuff, but actually its really simple to play.
"John Mifsud
Thanks! The only thing missing is a summary of the steps. Here's my attempt:
1. Frets 1-12, no open strings. Pick 1 natural note. Play this note on each string from low to high, then from high to low. Once you can play it without mistakes 3 times then do a different note. When you have done all 7 natural notes twice go to step 2.
2. Set metronome to 40 bpm. Play 1 note per beat as in step 1. Once you can do all 7 notes without mistakes go to step 3.
3. Do the sharps & flats for all notes as in step 2.
4. Pick 2 different notes. Play the first note going up & second note going down without stopping. Once this feels easy go to step 5.
5. Arrange the 7 natural notes in a random order (e.g. D F C E A G Play each of these notes (with the metronome) in order moving to the next note each time you reach the last string (e.g. D up, F down, C up, etc.) without stopping. When you can do it without mistakes go to step 6.
6. Repeat steps 2-5 gradually increasing the bpm. The goal is to reach 80 bpm."
A couple of mental shortcuts that have worked for me are using octaves, using the pentatonic concept, and using a blend of power chords and triads.
For octaves, check out this video:
Now, using the octaves, think about the fact that the pentatonic scale works at every point on the fretboard relative to that note. So the A minor pentatonic shape that we typically start on the fifth fret of the low E string can also be started on the 7th fret of the D string and the 2nd fret of the G string. Play around and you will find that the "shape" of the scale is the same.
As you play with these scales, try singing the name of each note as yougo.
For power chords, think about how that basic shape puts the root and fifth right there for you. Then think about how the triad works, giving you the root, the third (whether it's major or minor), and the fifth. Now, couple this triad with the above octaves trick and you'll see that your power chord can be moved up-and-over just as you would your octave. It all repeats.
Another trick is based on how we tune our guitars without a tuner, i.e. the fifth fret of the E string is A, the fifth the A string is D, etc etc etc. But also, the 7th fret of the A string is E, the 7th fret of the D string is A, the 7th fret of the G string is D, etc etc etc.
Here's a couple of other helpful videos:
(Ben Eller's entire "this is why you suck at guitar" series is amazing).
Here's the best exercise to get to know them, spend at least 5min per day, starting slowly is best.
1.) Finding all of the A notes on each string: (High to low strings).
Play all the A notes on the 1st string
Play all the A notes on the 2nd string
Play all the A notes on the 3rd string
Play all the A notes on the 4th string
Play all the A notes on the 5th string
Play all the A notes on the 6th string
Repeat the exercise for all natural notes: A,B,C,D,E,F,G.
2.) Find all of the A notes on each string: (Low to high strings).
Play all the A notes on the 6th string
Play all the A notes on the 5th string
Play all the A notes on the 4th string
Play all the A notes on the 3rd string
Play all the A notes on the 2nd string
Play all the A notes on the 1st string
Repeat the exercise for all natural notes: A,B,C,D,E,F,G.
3.) Repeat the exercises 1 and 2, but start slowly at 40bmp increasing slowly over weeks/months to 80bmp.
4.) Once you can do the above exercises fluently, then repeat exercises 1-2-3 using the sharp notes: A#,C#,D#,F#,G#.
1. Practical application - it’s where the starting point for the majority of barre chords and scales are found.
4. Easier to see where notes duplicate.
This really works, you just need to practice it 5mins a day.
open E
open e
2nd fret D string
5th fret b string
7th fret A string
etc etc
A couple of ideas in here not discussed yet. Know your c major scale in 4 positions and learn a simple mnemonic involving Mr. T from the A-Team to instantly work out the natural notes anywhere on the fretboard. Hope this is useful!
https://youtu.be/pqCnfS4ELGk
http://www.g66.eu/ http://www.zenrigs.com/
Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
http://www.g66.eu/ http://www.zenrigs.com/
Some use “Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles’ Father” because it works in the other direction too (Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle) but yours is definitely memorable!
Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
Ah, that's great - thanks man - glad you liked it! (and, yes, I now remember the phrase my friend used all those years ago was something like that, but, c'mon.. A-Team man!
http://www.g66.eu/ http://www.zenrigs.com/