Note memorization

[Bill_Brown]

Hi @dfmarcus63 , IMHO, it’s well worth the effort to memorize the whole notes along the loE, A and D strings, for speed. But it’s not necessary because you know the “musical alphabet” on each of those strings starting with the open note of that string🤩 I think that’s the message being delivered from that lesson IMHO.

[dfmarcus63]

Thanks @Bill_Brown very much for your response.

[jumpinjeff]

The question, Are we Supposed to….. , The answer: No. You will learn it by using it. Can you memorize if you want? Sure. If you like doing that type of learning I have heard accounts here that it has been useful and helpful for the people that did it. I tried to do it, made flashcards and everything, it did not work for me so I abandoned the exercise. I suppose I learned the notes like a child learns to talk, I just did it a lot and over time all the blanks filled in. Every time you memorize a chord shape you learn 3 notes. The strings all have relative relationships to each other and for me that was more useful figuring out what that was and how the sound fits together rather than learning notes by rote. Notes filled themselves in with use over time. Knowing the Key? now that is where Mandatory is the word.

[dfmarcus63]

Very helpful, thank you.

[dfmarcus63]

I just did day 2 of week 2 for fretboard wizard. The lesson was about changing major chords to minor and vice versa. As you know, this involves sharping or flatting the 3rd. To do this you must know the notes you are fretting so you can find the 3rd. I really think memorizing the notes on the neck is critical to all of this. I am having a hard time understanding why Tony never says something like “no one likes wrote memorization but the reality is you must learn the notes to move forward with theory and playing.”

[jumpinjeff]

The odd thing, I found knowing the relationship more important than knowing the name. As you pointed out knowing that the flat 3rd gives you a minor chord. The “Generic” relationship is more important because it is all the same in all twelve note tones. By knowing one relationship you understand 12 keys. I used to tell the guys I played with that there is only one scale: start it anywhere to give it different names/tonal flavor, but it is all the same. all of the derivatives are based off of that one scale. Knowing where everything is relative to the Root/1st scale degree or root chord tone, where is the 3 and the flat 3, where is the 5 and flat 5 and where is the 7 and the major 7 and where is the 6 and 13 and the flats of those. Knowing that transfers the knowledge to any key. Knowing one set of relationships opens 12 keys with no more work. it was a 12 for 1 sale. The notes I learned later. They made sense to me because I had contextual knowledge. They were not ambiguous labels I could never remember fast enough to be useful in playing situations. I liked that short cut. That is the only reason I focused on relationships rather than names. But hey I was an impatient player at the start and I wanted to get where I wanted to go and fast. If you are a good memorizer that is the way to go at the start I suppose. I admit I am not a good memorizer and transferring brain memory to physical usefulness is something I need short cuts for.

[Salty]

Jumpin Jeff is right, a great way to learn them so you will know them by heart is to do the exercise, I recommend everyday for the first 10 minutes of your practice. Just 5 to 10 minutes everyday and in about 4 to 6 months (in my opinion it might take that long, maybe not) you will now all of them. It just sorda comes to you. The low “E” for example, if you only do that string for 5 minutes everyday for a week. You will automatically know the “B” is on the 7th “C” on the 8th and once you even remember one. If you know your Alphabet uber easy to find the rest. Best of luck brother.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 5 months ago by  Salty.

[dfmarcus63]

Thanks very much!

[N-lightMike]

Hey @dfmarcus63 ;

Let me start with a very definite answer: NO. Under no circumstances should you “memorize” the notes. Here’s why: that’s not music, that’s academics. The 2 are diametrically opposed.

Yes, you need to start somewhere. Learn the natural notes on the low E string from the nut to the 12 the fret. That’s it. 13 notes.

Now, you learn positions, patterns, shapes, chord and scale intervals. That way, you start on a few notes, and learn the fretboard as a music map. Over time, you will know the specific notes if your mind works that way. It won’t happen by accident and it is completely unnecessary.

If you simply follow Tony’s instruction and have faith in the process, you will advance faster. The more you involve your mind, the more it will slow you down.

I speak from experience. The slow you down experience. There are plenty of people here who can’t touch me for understanding that can play circles around me.

Just sayin’. Your choice.

Of course, if you have a mind like mine, you don’t have a choice. The best you can do is keep it still for a little while. That’s when you play. What do you do with the over active mind the rest of the time? Become the music theory expert. Simple.

MG 😀

[dfmarcus63]

I take your point. I will follow the lessons and trust the process. Thanks!

[N-lightMike]

Trusting the process will serve you well, @dfmarcus63 . Memorize the notes on the low E string, then use the 5 patterns Tony shows in the beginning of the FW course and find all your octaves. Play them, see what kind of music you can create with them as opposed to “memorizing” them.

MG 😀

[SciencePete]

Love this reply! I think think I’m the ‘gotta know the notes and theory’ guy, but I’m going to try to stay out of those weeds. I’m into week 2 of FW 2.0 and finding that, other than for the chord matrix, I haven’t had to memorize individual notes yet. Still feel like I need to, but I want to try to let the music take me there first. 🙂

[N-lightMike]

Hey @SciencePete ;

Yeah, I totally get it. See my response just above this. Use the 5 patterns to go from the notes on the low E string to the octaves. And play around with them as opposed to memorizing them.

Then, if you want to go farther, see my post about these patterns:

https://tonypolecastro.com/family-forums/topic/easy-way-to-remember-5-patterns-from-fw/

If you like that, I can make the diagram available to you. In fact, I’ll put it on the thread.

MG 😀

[SciencePete]

Thanks so much for sharing your wisdom. This journey is so inspiring, because it challenges me in so many ways: Dexterity, rhythm, music/mathematical patterns and relationships, timing, memorization (which isn’t a bad thing when you get into your 60’s), physics, the art and beauty of guitars. You and so many others joyfully share and help others in this journey. I look forward to being able to do the same. Until then, it’s time for another FW 2.0 lesson! 🙂

[N-lightMike]

👍😊

Actually, @SciencePete , you don’t need to wait to contribute to the community. And you don’t need to be the one sharing your knowledge. By participating in the community, you are contributing to all of us. And when you share a small win, you are sharing your experience, which inspires all of us even if we are farther along our guitar journey.

So thank you for your part in this amazing community, Pete.

MG 😀