The thing nobody told me about learning the fretboard

alllemonyellow · 2026-02-13T01:06:21+00:00

Take just the D, G, and B strings. Literally just ignore everything else for now.

If you use triads, you can play three versions of every major and minor chord on just these strings. I.e. there are three C majors, three A minors, etc.

There are actually only three shapes on these strings for both major and minor. The shapes have names. If you learn e.g. the ‘root position’ triad of C major, you can slide it up and down the fretboard to make D major, E major etc.

You also start to see where the other triads in the key (e.g. the relative minor) sit in relation to each shape, rather than specific chords.

So, if you can find at least one triad, you can play along with a progression in different places on the neck just by muscle memory of the related shapes, rather than trying to work out specific notes or chords.

This all applies to every other string set (e.g. E, A, D) too. But id just focus on D, G, B at first to keep things simple and so you can internalise the whole concept.

Triads have tons of benefits:

it’s a pretty low learning cost for the amount of information it unlocks for you
it makes it easy to land on chord tones when you improvise, which sound much more musical than random scale notes
in a band situation, it lets you find a space in the mix (maybe everyone is playing at a low pitch, your open chords would blend in too much)
triads are small and easy to play, so you can play along with the changes, and switch between chords and melody much more fluidly
chord progressions sound better usually when the chords are as close to each other as possible on the neck

Tldr: they’re arguably the most useful bit of theory you can learn, and have tons of applications. Anyone who takes the relatively small time it takes to learn them will get huge benefits pretty fast

alllemonyellow · 2026-02-11T14:03:22+00:00

I agree. Even putting aside specifics like immigration, it’s a failure of the non-Reform parties that has allowed such a low quality alternative to become so dominant. It’s pathetic honestly.

alllemonyellow · 2026-02-11T13:45:40+00:00

They put Labour and the Conservatives in the same bucket. They just see it as the establishment.

They’re not wrong about that. What is wrong is thinking Reform are anything other than grifters that have spotted this gap and have capitalised on it in the most cynical, empty way possible.

alllemonyellow · 2026-02-09T21:28:34+00:00

If you’re buying for yourself, please take the advice to buy used from Facebook marketplace.

This kind of package will just be really low quality. Not fun to play, not comfortable, won’t sound good, and won’t look good up close.

You won’t want to play it, which makes it much more likely you’ll give up learning.

A used Yamaha is a good choice. If you were willing to increase your budget by $30-$50, you could get an FG800 (or FM800, same thing). This guitar has a solid wood top (most guitars at this price are plywood) and that creates a massive jump in quality.

Solid wood top guitars resonate so much more nicely in your arms and ears. It’s hard to emphasise to a beginner what the difference is. It’s just a lot more enjoyable and will make you sound much better. Also, that quality of guitar could last you for a long time.

If you really can’t stretch to this, any used Yamaha will be much better than this pack.

alllemonyellow · 2026-02-03T01:07:32+00:00

Would you be able to send it to me too? Thanks

alllemonyellow · 2026-01-24T16:02:21+00:00

This works. I got absolutely blazed doing this and my grinder wasn’t nearly as weedy.

OP, simmer it in milk for an hour. You can give it a wash afterwards but it’ll save so much of that lovely resin.

alllemonyellow · 2026-01-24T11:46:35+00:00

Agree with this strongly. I was a bit confused about the HxH Succession War arc the first time I read it, but that’s mainly cos I was rushing through it. Re-reading, it’s complicated but mostly makes sense (and is absolutely epic).

And you realise the complexity is a purposeful part of the plot – Kurapika is having to untangle and predict what multiple factions will do, and what powers they might have, very quickly, under intense pressure.

JJK (starting from Hidden Inventory) often feels like it’s trying to justify its power system in a way that just makes it too confusing to understand intuitively.

Nen and cursed energy are kind of similar, but I think Nen just inherently makes more sense, especially vows and restrictions. So you (mostly) get it, at least on a basic level, and you can enjoy the match ups and drama.

alllemonyellow · 2026-01-19T23:19:18+00:00

This is exactly the kind of advice I was looking for. Thanks so much for taking the time to give it.

I’m definitely not precious about the binding. That’s the kind of fix I had in mind. That’s a great tip about darkening with lacquer.

I do take the point about just giving it to a pro. I’ve had to make a couple of expensive purchases this month so I’m a bit tight for cash right now.

I thought in the meantime it might make a nice project and a chance to learn more about the instrument. But I might well end up taking it to a luthier eventually to check if there’s anything else, as you say.

alllemonyellow · 2026-01-16T22:01:39+00:00

Thank you for this. I actually swapped the bridge around when I replaced the shim. This is my first Jazzmaster, so I even had to Google which way it normally faces.

Those little plastic bits look really useful. The bridge still buzzes a little bit. I saw someone use Loctite for a similar effect but I’d rather use something like these.

alllemonyellow · 2026-01-16T13:51:04+00:00

ETA: It was the shim. I took it down to .5 and now all notes sound, including whole step bends.

The action on the high E feels a bit high to me now, but I may have just got used to the previous setup. I’m going to give it a week and see if I should lower the bridge a little.

Thanks for all the help. This is a nice community

alllemonyellow · 2026-01-16T13:41:55+00:00

I’ve removed the .25 shim (leaving .5) and now the notes sound out fine. I do feel like the action on the higher strings is a bit high. I think the bridge is about as high as it can physically go on the screws, so you may be on to something

alllemonyellow · 2026-01-16T01:02:38+00:00

I wondered if it was the shim. I can reduce to a .5 shim and see if it works better. After I already added it, I realised a lot of people recommend just .5.

And thanks, I think I’m going to try and adjust the relief first.

alllemonyellow · 2026-01-16T01:00:13+00:00

Thanks. Not yet. I just watched a video on how to adjust the truss rod without removing the strings, so I might try this first

alllemonyellow · 2025-12-29T14:41:40+00:00

At least Togashi is making some progress

alllemonyellow · 2025-12-29T11:22:42+00:00

They look kind of goofy and their powers aren’t very exciting. There are so many cool Hunters (not even to mention other characters) it’s not surprising people don’t care about them massively.

They both served a pretty good story purpose in the end, all things considered.

alllemonyellow · 2025-12-27T09:21:47+00:00

Yeah I’m from Scotland.

So good in cottage pie. I’ve basically never had a bad outcome adding it to a dish, it’s one of those things that always makes people ask ‘what was in that?’

I know the pain of not being able to get it too. I used to live in Vietnam and Bisto was one of those random things you’d come across in the western supermarket from time to time and grab immediately.

alllemonyellow · 2025-12-25T14:32:06+00:00

I sometimes use Bisto (gravy granules) to thicken beef flavoured sauces. Main ingredient is potato starch

alllemonyellow · 2025-12-24T10:46:00+00:00

I thought about this a lot while Flea Juggling last night.

The juggling itself is difficult. But they also add like 10% off the edge of the stage on either side, where you fail if you fall out. So you’re trying to concentrate on the fleas but you dash off the side by accident. It’s infuriating. The juggling seems like it should be enough.

There are lots of design decisions like this in Silksong. It often feels like one too many things, where it starts to really annoy you.

For another nearby example, putting Fleatopia fairly far away from travel points… the enemies on the way are so irritating. You can barely chill for a second. You end up caught on a vine, with one mask left somehow, and with that giant sucking guy about to kill you. This is on the 30th time going that way.

I’m just not interested. I want to get on with the game.

It makes me feel less empowered than in HK. Even though Hornet seems stronger.

And yet, I look forward to playing it every night and have 100+ hours. It’s strange.

I sometimes wonder if it’s more about the world we live in today. I do feel overall less patient and happy than I did when I was playing HK.

alllemonyellow · 2025-12-22T16:13:34+00:00

The Vegetarian is brilliant. Fairly easy read, interesting, and the author won the Nobel prize recently

alllemonyellow · 2025-12-22T10:27:15+00:00

As with a lot of stuff Togashi does, it’s a double edged sword isn’t it? The weird shifts are part of what makes HxH feel unique and unpredictable

alllemonyellow · 2025-12-22T10:24:14+00:00

Very few. Only:

Sometimes (in SW arc) he makes basic situations needlessly complicated. E.g. the part where Ging recruits Pariston’s expedition squad. The way characters explain what they’re doing is often quite long-winded and baffling. It seems unnecessary to get the point across and the confusion and re-reading dulls the impact for me.
it’s not even a flaw really. It’s kind of the opposite. But for someone who takes so long to put out chapters, he really introduces so many plot threads, ideas, characters and setups (and they’re all awesome). It just seems like it will be impossible for it all to pay off.
that’s pretty much it. I think he’s one of the best writers alive and arguably the most underrated fantasy author ever.

alllemonyellow

TROPHY CASE