I want to present a challenge for you this month. Between now and the fourth of July, the aim is to memorize all of the natural notes (ABCDEFG) on all six strings from open to fret 12. Below, you will find a video to guide you in this process.
For many, this can seem daunting. Some think they know where all the notes are but are fairly slow in naming them in the upper regions of the fretboard. Either way, this process will give you more confidence in knowing your instrument.
Key tips:
Work on one string at a time. You have five weeks in this challenge, so a good strategy is to just focus on one string each week. The high E string is a freebie because the notes are labeled the same as the low E string.
Use your imagination and visualization skills. Think about taking a leisurely stroll on a street in a neighborhood. Each day, you walk up and down this street observing the houses. The position markers (the dots) on the odd frets can be helpful landmarks.
Remember that BC and EF are always just one fret apart. Otherwise, you have to jump over one fret to get to the next natural note. For example: From A to B. Think of the nut of the guitar as fret 0.
I hope you find the video below helpful. It is divided into short chapters on the playback line, so you can easily return to whatever string you are practicing that day. Good luck and have fun!
Tristan