Recognizing Musical Intervals on the Fretboard

Recognizing Musical Intervals on the Fretboard

Q: I just had a quick question for ya. I’ve recently acquired your Music Theory Interval Recognition program. I understand its pretty straight forward. My question is when the question is stated do you picture the note on your neck in your mind? Or are you just basing it off pure instinct? As is the answers are just ingrained in your mind kind of a thing.

A: I definitely see the guitar fretboard in my mind and then use that to get the answer. That’s why the Music Theory Workbook for Guitar Volume One and Music Theory Workbook for Guitar Volume Two are so important. If you can start seeing all these relationships in your mind you will be lightning fast with any notes or degrees in any key.

You might also consider working with the Single String Studies for Guitar Volume One. There are four aspects of learning the guitar that are particularly difficult to master. These are:

• Learning the names of all the pitches found on the guitar.
• Connecting the notes found on a music staff to their location on the fretboard.
• Knowing where the notes are on the guitar by feel, not by sight.
• Learning scales without relying on patterns.

If you can relate the intervals to not only the guitar fretboard but also associate the notes with a musical staff you will be in a much better place to learn to read music.

Best Regards,

Bruce

It is also recommended that you read Bruce Arnold’s Blog at his artist site. It contains more discussion of the musical topics found in these FAQs as well as other subjects of interest. You will also find the “Music Education Genealogy Chart” located here which shows you the historic significance of the music education products found on the Muse Eek Publishing Company Website.