Learn The Fretboard – 10 Essential Beginner Tips

Lesson PDF Downloads:

• Open String Practice
• Fret Marker Practice
• Position Practice (Random Chromatic Notes)

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Tip #1 – Learn The Open Strings!

First things first, you need to know the open strings. On a four string bass from thickest to thinest we have: E A D G, if you have a 5 string bass then this will be: B E A D G. The bass is tuned in 4th’s, but music tends to work like the alphabet. From E you go: E F G A and so on from each open string.

Tip #2 – Notes Repeat At The 12th Fret

This is knowing that the bass fretboard is split into two halves, everything below the 12th fret is repeated above the 12th fret! For example, if you know your G is the 3rd fret on the E string, then it’ll be G on the 15th fret of the same string.

Tip #3 – Use The Fret Markers

The fret markers are there to help you keep your bearings no matter where you are on the fretboard. They help with knowing what fret you’re on, so 5th fret marker on the A string is a D and so on.. You have markers on the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th and 12th fret (which repeats about the 12th fret!). Learn the notes on these frets first up and down the neck.

Tip #4 – Enharmonic Equivalency

Once you know the natural notes via the open strings, fret markers and musical alphabet, you can start finding the accidentals (a.k.a the sharps and flats). To find the flat of a note, just look at the note a semitone (1 fret) below e.g. below a G we have Gb, and to find the sharp of a note, just look at the note a semitone above e.g. above a G we have G#.

You may have noticed that some notes sound the same, but have 2 different names; e.g. A Gb is also an F#. These are called enharmonic and can be described as either depending on other variables. There are accidentals between the notes all across the fretboard accept for 2 notes: E to F and B to C. There are no accidentals between these two points.

Tip #5 – Use Octave Patterns

If you don’t know all the notes well enough yet, you can use octave patterns to find the pitch above or below the note you’re on. From your root note, you move up two frets and across two strings to find the same note in a higher pitch. You’ll see that you have formed a box shape or pattern and this hack will help you loads.

Tip #6 – Don’t Learn Notes In Bulk

It’s best to learn notes in a systemised way rather than all of them all over as this can easily overload and confuse you. You should learn to look at the fretboard in more easily digestible chunks and positions. When you learn to read music, you generally work around positions as the bass fretboard is designed in such a way as to allow easy access to all the notes you need in a given key.

Tip #7 – Reading Music

Learning to read is absolutely the best way to learn all the notes on the fretboard. You’ll learn in a systemised, positional way and every time you read a note it’s like you’re being tested. Now, reading can be quite a big topic so if you’re interested in learning then check out my Simple Steps to Sight Reading Course.

Tip #8 – Chord Charts

If reading music is something you don’t want to do then there are other ways! Learning to read and decipher chord charts is another excellent way of learning all the notes on the fretboard. Try reading through any chord charts you can get a hold of, just start by identifying the root notes first. Once you’re transferring notes from the chart to the fretboard, you’ll be making progress.

Mark’s Super Mega Fast Cycle of 4th’s Method

The cycle of 4th’s is a handy way of working through all the keys by moving your starting point (or root) up in 4th’s. This is a brilliant way of practicing pretty much everything, the cycle of 4th’s should become you’re new best friend!

The notes are: C F Bb Eb Ab Db B E A D G, but I have a handy bitesize way of learning all 12 keys going around the cycle of 4th’s:

CF – Cycle of 4th’s

BbEbAbDb – like a bead of sweat

BEADG – the same without flat’s and a G added at the end

Tip #9 – Play Cycle Of 4th’s On Each String

Test yourself on finding these notes on different places on your fretboard by using the cycles of 4th’s as a reference. Do this for the E string to start before moving on the the A string and so on. If you make a mistake or it takes you a while to find them, start again from the beginning and do it again.

Tip #10 – Play Everything Through The Cycle

When it comes to fretboard knowledge, its great practice to play all your scales, arpeggios etc. through the cycle of 4th’s. You can even do this with bass lines of songs you like, this also helps you when it comes to transposing to a different key.