Fretboard Masterclass

The Fundamentals

In this lesson we'll cover the fundamental building blocks of music, whole steps & half steps and the major scale. We'll begin our journey of learning the names of the notes on the fretboard starting with the E and A strings. (If this is easy for you, hang on till the later lessons as we get the new players caught up!). We'll learn the first pattern of the "Three Note Per String Scales".

3 Note Per String Scales (Pattern 2) + D & G String Notes

In this lesson we'll cover the 2nd pattern of the 3 Note Per String Scales. We'll also cover the note names on the D and G string. We'll also recap the information learned in the previous lesson!

3 Note Per String Scales (Pattern 3) + B & E String Notes

In this lesson we'll cover the 3nd pattern of the 3 Note Per String Scales. We'll also cover the note names on the B and E string.

3 Note Per String Scales (Pattern 4) + Recap of Note Names

In this lesson we'll cover the 4th pattern of the 3 Note Per String Scales. We'll also recap the note names on all the strings!

3 Note Per String Scales (Patterns 5 & 6)

In this lesson we'll cover the 5th and 6th patterns of the 3 Note Per String Scales. We'll also recap the names of the notes on the fretboard again.

3 Note Per String Scales (Pattern 7) + Chord Formula Basics

In this lesson we'll cover the 7th pattern of the 3 Note Per String Scales. We'll also spend some time recapping all 7 patterns of scales. We'll also begin talking about chords, chord formulas and how to derive them from the major scale.

3 Note Scales Recap + Chord Formulas + CAGED System Basics

In this lesson we're going to recap the 7 patterns of 3 note per string scales. We're also going to look at the basic chord (triad) formulas in more detail: major, minor, and diminished. We're also going to look at an overview of the CAGED system how each chord overlaps and where we're going next with it! At this point the 3 note per strings scales need to be locked in as much as possible! So don't skip the necessary recaps!

CAGED System and The Secret Sauce: Intervals

In this lesson we'll dive into the concept of seeing the fretboard in intervals and numbers instead of just note names. We'll assign numbers to each note in the major scale 1 through 7. We'll begin the process of learning the CAGED system and the intervals in all 5 shapes of the CAGED system starting with the E shape (1's, 3's and 5's)... Possibly the most important lesson of this course so far!

E Shape: 2's, 4's, 6's & 7's

In this lesson we'll cover the E shape of the CAGED system one step further with the 2's, 4's, 6's and 7's. We'll also recap where the 1's, 3's and 5's are in the E shape. Then we'll practice playing little melodies in the E shape calling out the numbers (intervals) as we go.

E Shape Recap + D Shape: 1's, 3's and 5's

In this lesson we'll recap the 1's through 7's of the E shape playing melodies as well as combining two notes at the same time within these little practice melodies. We'll also move up to the D shape and cover the 1's, 3's and 5's.

D Shape: 2's, 4's, 6's & 7's

In this lesson we'll cover the 2's, 4's, 6's and 7's of the D shape. We'll also recap where the 1's, 3's and 5's are. Then we'll practice playing little melodies in the D shape calling out the numbers (intervals) as we go.

D Shape Recap + C Shape: 1's, 3's and 5's

In this lesson we'll recap the 1's through 7's of the D shape playing more complex melodies as well as combining two notes at the same time within these little practice melodies. We'll also move up to the C shape and cover the 1's, 3's and 5's.

C Shape: 2's, 4's, 6's & 7's

In this lesson we'll cover the 2's, 4's, 6's and 7's of the C shape. We'll also recap where the 1's, 3's and 5's are. Then we'll practice playing little melodies in the C shape calling out the numbers (intervals) as we go.

C Shape Recap + A Shape: 1's, 3's and 5's

In this lesson we'll recap the 1's through 7's of the C shape playing more complex melodies as well as combining two notes at the same time within these little practice melodies. We'll also move up to the A shape and cover the 1's, 3's and 5's.

A Shape: 2's, 4's, 6's & 7's

In this lesson we'll cover the 2's, 4's, 6's and 7's of the A shape. We'll also recap where the 1's, 3's and 5's are. Then we'll practice playing little melodies in the A shape calling out the numbers (intervals) as we go.

A Shape Recap + G Shape: 1's, 3's and 5's

In this lesson we'll recap the 1's through 7's of the A shape playing more complex melodies as well as combining two notes at the same time within these little practice melodies. We'll also move up to the G shape and cover the 1's, 3's and 5's.

G Shape: 2's, 4's, 6's & 7's

In this lesson we'll cover the 2's, 4's, 6's and 7's of the G shape. We'll also recap where the 1's, 3's and 5's are. Then we'll practice playing little melodies in the G shape calling out the numbers (intervals) as we go.

Recap of all 5 CAGED shapes + Interval Ear Training

In this lesson we'll recap each shape in the CAGED system, playing little melodies in each shape, then combining shapes to form more extensive melodic exercises. We'll also begin to work on our ear, hearing a melody, distinguishing the intervals, then putting it on the fretboard in each of the 5 CAGED shapes.

The Harmonized Major Scale (Chord Scale)

In this lesson we're going to cover the Harmonized Major Scale, how it works, and how to use it. We'll learn how to play all 7 chords within the E shape position of the CAGED system. We'll also learn the basics of the "Nashville Number System" and call out chord changes as an exercise within the E shape position.

Harmonized Major Scale - E shape Recap & D Shape Chords

In this lesson we're going to recap on all 7 chords in the E shape position. Then we'll learn the 7 chords in the D shape position and play some exercises using the number system.

Harmonized Major Scale - D shape Recap & C Shape Chords

In this lesson we're going to recap on all 7 chords in the D shape position. Then we'll learn the 7 chords in the C shape position and play some exercises using the number system.

Harmonized Major Scale - C shape Recap & A Shape Chords

In this lesson we're going to recap on all 7 chords in the C shape position. Then we'll learn the 7 chords in the A shape position and play some exercises using the number system.

Harmonized Major Scale - A shape Recap & G Shape Chords

In this lesson we're going to recap on all 7 chords in the A shape position. Then we'll learn the 7 chords in the G shape position and play some exercises using the number system.

Harmonized Major Scale - G shape Recap & Recap of All Shapes

In this lesson we're going to recap on all 7 chords in the G shape position. Then we'll recap each of the 5 CAGED shapes playing every chord in each of the 5 shapes.

You Made It! Recap of Entire Course + Looking Ahead

Congratulations! You made it! At this point you know the entire fretboard, how it works, how to find melodies and chords in any key! There's an endless amount of work you can do with what you've learned here. This is the foundation of all music we create on the guitar. Let's look ahead to future concepts that build on all of this!