Learn The Natural Notes

Do you know the names of the notes on your guitar? Some guitarists do, but lots don't. You might find that you just use fret and string numbers to find your way around - and that's okay - but if you learn the notes on the fretboard, you'll be able to communicate better with other musicians, find chords and scales faster, and feel less ‘lost’ on the neck. There are 12 notes to learn, but let's keep things simple and learn the 7 natural notes - A B C D E F & G.

This week, take a few minutes each day to try to learn the natural notes on the 'A string'. Here we go!

1. The notes ALWAYS move alphabetically from A to G and then repeat. A B C D E F G - A B C D E F G - etc.

2. Each note is 2 frets apart, EXCEPT for B & C, and E & F. They are neighbours/fretboard besties/side-kicks.

3. The pattern is always the same. Start on the A String and play the notes in the picture above. Start with the open A note and play all the notes up to the A on fret 12.

4. As you play the notes, say the letter name out loud.

5. Do it backwards. Start on the A note on fret 12, then play the notes in reverse order until you play the open A string. Say the note names out loud as you do it. "A G F E D C B A"

6. Use the note patterns below and see how quickly you can find the note on the A string (you could also ask a friend to read them out to you):

1: C – A – F – E – D – B – G – C – A – D – E – F

2: G – E – A – B – D – F – C – A – G – B – E – D

3: F – G – C – E – D – A – B – F – D – G – C – A

4: B – D – E – G – C – F – A – E – G – D – B – C