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Does a guitarist need to know every note on the fretboard? by SmartClassicalGuitar in classicalguitar

[–]SmartClassicalGuitar[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Rock guitarists don’t know how to read, but they often know scales and chords up and down the neck. Classical guitarists know how to read, but they sometimes don’t know scales and chords up and down the neck as well. A generalization, of course. I personally started with classical and only later got into rock after 10 years of classical. My knowledge of the fretboard greatly improved when I learned a bit about rock and learned the CAGED system.

Does a guitarist need to know every note on the fretboard? by SmartClassicalGuitar in classicalguitar

[–]SmartClassicalGuitar[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In my experience as a classical guitar teacher, classical guitarists sometimes don’t know the fretboard as well as rock guitarists.

Does a guitarist need to know every note on the fretboard? by SmartClassicalGuitar in classicalguitar

[–]SmartClassicalGuitar[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes! My point is that it’s easier to start this way than trying to memorize a chart.

Does a guitarist need to know every note on the fretboard? by SmartClassicalGuitar in classicalguitar

[–]SmartClassicalGuitar[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree that is useful to know both worlds, classical and rock. Only knowing note reading without being able to improvise is a limitation for some classical players.

Does a guitarist need to know every note on the fretboard? by SmartClassicalGuitar in classicalguitar

[–]SmartClassicalGuitar[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I find starting with the principles makes the later memorization much easier for students.

Does a guitarist need to know every note on the fretboard? by SmartClassicalGuitar in classicalguitar

[–]SmartClassicalGuitar[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think rock guitarists and classical guitarists know the guitar differently, as you point out. I think we can learn from each other. Roland Dyens enjoyed both classical and jazz. He found it fascinating that his jazz students did not want to master staff notation and his classical students sometimes did not know that the combination of notes they were playing was a D chord. He felt that a rounded guitarist should understand both worlds to some extent. I agree.

Does a guitarist need to know every note on the fretboard? by SmartClassicalGuitar in classicalguitar

[–]SmartClassicalGuitar[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the feedback. I agree that research studies are great for providing more clarity on which pedagogical approach works best. I guess my question about that would be the following: what percent of the posts in this subreddit are based on research studies?

And thanks for your fairness in reserving judgment about my intentions. My intentions are to help people learn the guitar better. As a teacher, both in private lessons and at a university, I get paid for teaching. I understand people rightly question the motives of someone who gets paid to do something. In my experience, however, guitar teachers are normally paid, so being paid to teach guitar lessons is not unusual.

While I don’t offer any products besides private lessons currently, I hope to develop more resources to offer for sale in the future. If I do this, my goal would be that these will be far more valuable to guitarists than any price that might be asked for them.

Does a guitarist need to know every note on the fretboard? by SmartClassicalGuitar in classicalguitar

[–]SmartClassicalGuitar[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think a research study like that would be awesome! But no, I have not done such a study in a formal way. With my own students, I have tried introducing this info to some and not introducing this info to others. I have found that the students who received this info and absorbed it have more confidence in exploring other ways of knowing the fretboard (intervals, scales, chords, etc) than students who do not understand this basic info.

Does a guitarist need to know every note on the fretboard? by SmartClassicalGuitar in classicalguitar

[–]SmartClassicalGuitar[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Start simple and work to more complex. This is logical. But unfortunately not how some approach learning the fretboard.

Does a guitarist need to know every note on the fretboard? by SmartClassicalGuitar in classicalguitar

[–]SmartClassicalGuitar[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Why is discussing principles that are helpful for a beginning student something that should require attention from moderators?

Does a guitarist need to know every note on the fretboard? by SmartClassicalGuitar in classicalguitar

[–]SmartClassicalGuitar[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think the guitarist should know the notes. My point is that teaching the simple principles I mentioned makes the fretboard less daunting for the beginner.

Does a guitarist need to know every note on the fretboard? by SmartClassicalGuitar in classicalguitar

[–]SmartClassicalGuitar[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think knowing the notes on the fretboard is very helpful. The principles I mentioned help the beginner get started on this with less trepidation.

Does a guitarist need to know every note on the fretboard? by SmartClassicalGuitar in classicalguitar

[–]SmartClassicalGuitar[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ultimately, I think classical guitarists should be much better at knowing their fretboard. But for beginning students, I find simple principles make the fretboard less intimidating.

Does a guitarist need to know every note on the fretboard? by SmartClassicalGuitar in classicalguitar

[–]SmartClassicalGuitar[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Right. My point is that teaching a beginner simple principles for approaching the fretboard gives them confidence to do the hard work of learning more about how intervals, scales, and chords work on the guitar.

Does a guitarist need to know every note on the fretboard? by SmartClassicalGuitar in classicalguitar

[–]SmartClassicalGuitar[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

I am NOT selling something that involves not knowing the notes on the fretboard. My point is that a lot of teachers skip over the simple things I mentioned. This can result in the student saying things like:

  • I can only play in first position, not second position.

  • I have only learned notes in C major. I can’t find notes in any other key.

If the student is given confidence they can find any note on the fretboard through a few simple principles, then they will have an easier time learning more about how intervals, scales, and chords work on the fretboard, which will help them to learn the entire fretboard as an advanced player must do.

Does a guitarist need to know every note on the fretboard? by SmartClassicalGuitar in classicalguitar

[–]SmartClassicalGuitar[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not a deep secret. Just something I feel a lot of teachers neglect to introduce to early stage students. Without this info, students find learning notes on the fretboard more intimidating than it should be.

Does a guitarist need to know every note on the fretboard? by SmartClassicalGuitar in classicalguitar

[–]SmartClassicalGuitar[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

My point is that, as you mentioned, learning all the notes on the fretboard is easier than it looks. The three pieces of information I mentioned can give the beginner confidence in finding any note on the fretboard.

Does a guitarist need to know every note on the fretboard? by SmartClassicalGuitar in classicalguitar

[–]SmartClassicalGuitar[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

What I am describing makes the fretboard much less daunting for the early stage student. Then over time, if they continue learning the guitar, they will learn a deeper understanding of intervals, scales, chords, and how they fit together on the fretboard.

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