How to memorize the guitar fretboard

On the surface, learning to play guitar seems pretty easy. All you really need to know is where to put your fingers and how to jump around stage, but in reality, learning how to memorize the guitar fretboard has scared off more than one prospective player. In fact, the idea of picking up your first guitar and realizing just how many notes there are and how exacting your fingering has to be can be downright intimidating. Every guitar teacher has their own methods of teaching their students how to memorize the guitar fretboard, but many students find that taking a three pronged approach: hearing, seeing and touching, works best. Here are a few helpful tips for how to memorize the guitar fretboard.

If you were go back in time and attempt to learn how to memorize the guitar fretboard, you would likely be greeted with note graphics. Many traditional teachers even today use these notes to teach their students exactly where the particular notes are on the fretboard. Of course, most people can’t and don’t learn from such sterile graphics, but used in conjunction with other forms of learning, graphic depictions can be of some use. It is important to know before you try to learn how to memorize the guitar fretboard that you understand how you learn: visually, audibly or with note graphics.

To try to add a little bit of fun to what is a rather boring part of learning guitar, some teachers will make flash cards. On one side, you would write each individual fret, from 1-12. On the other side of the card, you would write the sequence of notes. You can begin quizzing yourself by memorizing which notes are in each fret, but don’t just rely on this one form of learning. Intermingle it with other forms of learning, such as playing each note as you say it, or, if you can play other instruments, try playing them on a piano. By taking a multi-faceted approach, listing, memorization and playing, you will learn your fretboard much faster.

You can take the flash card idea even farther once you have the first level memorized. This time, take a second set of flash cards and write down individual frets and notes, such as 5th fret, 3rd note. As you begin to master this new set of cards, try to accompany each correct answer with proper fingering on your guitar and note playing, as well. It is a long way from tearing down the house with a lighting fast solo, but it is important to remember that every guitar player was where you are right now at one point.

It may turn out that you learn faster from the use of mnemonics. Most grade school kids are taught the scales using the mnemonic device Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge (E, G,B,D,F). If you can remember these mnemonic devices easier than other methods of learning the fretboard, then feel free to use them.

Learning how to memorize the guitar fretboard can be a bit intimidating and even scary when you are first saddled with the responsibility. However, there are enough tricks and enough different methods out there for everyone to succeed.