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Back to F.I.N. System intro page. Learn Scales on the FretboardLearning the fretboard is the first step to playing chords on demand. I have found the best way learn it is one string at a time. The 6th string, also known as the low E string is a logical place to start. Many chords have their root on this string, so it makes sense to start here. Besides, the 6th and the 1st string are identical except for being two octaves apart.
Play the ScalesPlaying the scale up and down the fretboard is a valuable exercise. Even though you will never really play your guitar like this when you perform, playing scales this way allows you to lean the entire neck quicker. Also, your eye will be able to see the relation between the notes better which will make your ear training more effective. The following exercises are designed to introduce you to the notes of the fretboard by playing scales up and down individual strings. Other techniques for learning the neck take a different approach by teaching you scales across the neck. These methods make it difficult to see the intervals between the scale notes which hinders ear development. Also, students who learn this way tend to learn only the notes on the first few frets. This becomes a crutch to their learning of the entire neck. 
EXERCISE #1, Part 1: Scales on StringsA good way to learn the notes on the fretboard is one string at a time. It’s good because you can better see the distance between the intervals. Also, it introduces you to the whole fretboard faster than playing scales across the strings. Here’s what you do. 1. Play the E Major scale (in note order) on the 6th string going from the open position to as far up the neck as you can comfortably go on your guitar. 2. Sing the note you are playing out loud and be aware of where the note is on the fretboard. Yes, sing the note as you say it! If you don’t, it will take longer to learn the notes and your ear won’t get the training it needs. 3. Play along with a metronome, slow at first but speed it up as you get more proficient. 4. Next play the scale down the neck. Stay on the same string. When you get the hang of that, play the notes up and down the scale and in different order. Try to pick out a song using ONLY the notes of the scale. 5. Here’s a good ear training technique. Play the string in the open position, then play another note of the scale on that string and think to yourself, “What song begins with those two notes.” After working on one string for a while (15-30 minutes) take a break. Go listen to someone talking, dogs barking, a waterfall, anything that will give your ears a change of pace. Then next time you practice, start on a different string. Remember, you are playing a different key on each string. The break allows your ear to get familiar with the tones of each key. An abrupt key change can create more audio information than you need to try to process right now.
EXERCISE #1, PART 2: The In-Between NotesJust like the piano has its black key so does the guitar, in a way. These are the notes that are between the notes of the major scale. These notes actually create a 5-note scale often called the Scottish Pentatonic scale.
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