#1
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Finding notes on the fretboard: good article
Many thanks to tbeltrans for sharing with me a version of the note-finding exercise described in this article:
https://reverb.com/news/weekend-wood...&utm_source=FB The article mentions tablature as a possible obstacle in learning notes on the fretboard. Occasionally I have seen disparaging comments on this forum about the use of tablature. Some say "just play...use your ears." Some say "notation is the only way to go." For me, it's been a combination of all three when it comes to learning how to play songs. I can't rely on any one method by itself. Foundational to it all, in breaking free of pre-arranged songs especially, is learning the notes on the fretboard. Next up: I am going to work on scales and chord spellings. All while continuing to learn to play songs, mind you. But without the foundational work, I felt like I was a "prisoner" of the arrangements, created by others, of the songs I learned. I didn't know how to break free and change them up, even a little bit. Well, now I'm learning that. This article I'm sharing describes a process that has been very helpful for me. I hope other beginners/newbies find it useful as well.
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Carol "We are music fingered by the gods." ~ Mark Nepo |
#2
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I'm currently working on this too.
I know a lot of notes, but it is very incomplete, so I need some purposeful practice.
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Christian Guitar: Camps Primera Negra A (a flamenco guitar) Strings: Aquila SugarAquila Rubino, Knobloch CX, Aquila Alchemia I play: Acoustic blues & folk Videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/sirwhale28/videos |
#3
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Just how useful is memorizing every note up and down on the fretboard? Frankly I just don't get the usefulness of it for what most people do.
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Derek Coombs Youtube -> Website -> Music -> Tabs Guitars by Mark Blanchard, Albert&Mueller, Paul Woolson, Collings, Composite Acoustics, and Derek Coombs "Reality is that which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Woods hands pick by eye and ear
Made to one with pride and love To be that we hold so dear A voice from heavens above |
#4
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So, for an example, I am playing a melody note and underlying chord and someone (teacher, guitar buddy, etc.) suggests "try playing an F# with that".... I have no clue where to find an F# except on the first fret.
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Carol "We are music fingered by the gods." ~ Mark Nepo |
#5
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For a person looking to learn how to arrange instrumentals, which Carol is, this statement couldn't be more wrong.
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#6
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A logical sequence is to learn to play up and across the fretboard before trying to arrange instrumental music, given that an arrangement is not just a theoretical exercise but needs to take into account playability and musical phrasing. Otherwise cart before the horse...
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#7
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There are situations such as this (communication, etc.) and I use note name location when I read standard notation. In arranging music and playing on the fly go mainly by ear and by recognizing note intervals.
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Derek Coombs Youtube -> Website -> Music -> Tabs Guitars by Mark Blanchard, Albert&Mueller, Paul Woolson, Collings, Composite Acoustics, and Derek Coombs "Reality is that which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Woods hands pick by eye and ear
Made to one with pride and love To be that we hold so dear A voice from heavens above |
#8
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I can't think of a good reason NOT to know where notes sit on the fingerbaord. It really just takes a little effort and the rewards are numerous.
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#9
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I'm with rick-slo on this. Theory is good for talking about music. A good musical ear and a good musical memory is more important when it comes to playing and arranging. I was arranging tunes before I knew any music theory vocabulary. When I wanted a note I looked for it by it's sound not it's name.
When I arrange now I select notes by their sound, not by their name. I can name then if I have to, like if I'm notating stuff, but I think in terms of sound and not in terms of note names. |
#10
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Quote:
And as Grinning Boy said, my interest is in arrangements. Yes, I would like to be able to arrange music....someday. Right now, I just want to be able to take an arrangement in one of my songbooks, and perhaps change it up a little, make it more my own. Some of the arrangements are very VERY simple, only a single note at a time. I'd like to build on that, and what to learn how to do that without having to randomly test every note within reach of the note(s) indicated on the page. Make sense?
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Carol "We are music fingered by the gods." ~ Mark Nepo |
#11
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Quote:
My point was that for someone like me, or Carol, who wants to be able to learn how to arrange songs and have a musical reference for the song, we need to be able to read notation. |
#12
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Context...
For me it's a matter of context. Some use the fingerboard and the notes, some use the sound and the music. It's a matter of learning one thing at a time. The problem I see with memorizing the fingerboard without any musical context is that it's putting the cart before the horse in a way.
If you tough it out, learn 5 or 6 good tunes and play them into "second nature", you can then use that as your context. You'll be able to contrast and compare. I'd recommend analysis be postponed/deferred until after you can play some things musically. Music is more than playing the right notes in the right order...
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Harmony Sovereign H-1203 "You're making the wrong mistakes." ...T. Monk Theory is the post mortem of Music. |
#13
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Quote:
The action of looking for a note you hear in your head is what develops a good ear. It's never too soon to start. |
#14
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Quote:
Baby steps!
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Carol "We are music fingered by the gods." ~ Mark Nepo |
#15
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I could never get to grips with notation, and tablature frustrates me.
I'm not saying that either are "wrong" but it seems my brain had worked out a musical strategy long before I discovered either. I simply don't "see" musical notes as tadpoles or numbers on lines. If either work for you - you have an advantage.
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Silly Moustache, Just an old Limey acoustic guitarist, Dobrolist, mandolier and singer. I'm here to try to help and advise and I offer one to one lessons/meetings/mentoring via Zoom! |