Using Improv to Learn Fretboard

[m78w]

Hey Everyone,
Just wanted to pass along a new lesson I published this week. I've been getting a lot of questions recently about learning note names on the guitar, so I put together this article talking about improvisation exercises that I like to use when learning note names.

Constructive Noodling: Using Improvisation to Learn the Guitar Fretboard | MattWarnockGuitar.com


Check it out, thanks!

[Franklin52]

We'll check it out. Thanks Matt.

[m78w]

Thanks Franklin!

[jcayer]

Matt,

This is exactly what I wanted to practice in the Christmas break from my guitar lessons.

Thanks a lot, very interesting and fun way to do it !!!

[m78w]

Cool, glad you dug the article! It's a subject that I get asked about probably more than anything else so I thought it was high time I wrote an article about it.

[JonnyPac]

Great ideas, Matt. That's much like what I do every day to warm up with a drum machine/metronome. I limit myself to a set of strings (usually high, mid, or low) and play horizontally up/down the neck working out lines and motifs freely all in one key or mode. Then I switch tempo and/or time signature and key/scale and go again. I try to think outside "boxes" and strict positions and let the lines roll over the bar lines (without ever losing sight of the downbeat). I've been especially focused on phasing lately...

Keep up the good stuff!

[m78w]

Thanks, yeah those are great ideas, anytime you get outside of boxes and patterns it's a great way to open up the neck and take your playing in new directions.

[Jzzr]

Hi Matt,

Another great article! I have been working on chromatics and non-position playing, so I tried this exercise with some chromatics added to the arpeggios........very freeing! Thx!

[m78w]

Thanks man, yeah these exercises can be expanded in a lot of different directions, adding chromatics is a great way to take these ideas to the next level.