Fretboard Secret Handbook

Scott Su, Lynda Huang

• Publisher: STC Music
• Year: 2017
• eBook ISBN:
  9789869387835
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: Guitar Music

Key Features

? Proprietary visual memory techniques to master fretboard scale patterns and note locations in just 10 minutes.

? Integrate intervals, chords, arpeggios, modes, and mental frameworks to play with total freedom across the fretboard.

? Practical practical examples and licks designed to boost your technique and build instant scale shape recall.

About the Book

This handbook utilizes a highly effective concept: the "Image Memorization Method"—proven to help your brain lock in fretboard scale patterns in a fraction of the time. Beyond memorization, it provides structured practice routines and practical applications. It not only sharpens your visual recall of notes and fingerings, but also empowers you to seamlessly connect scales, chords, and harmony in real time.

The ultimate goal of this book is simple: to make sure you always know exactly where you are on the fretboard during any performance.

What's New in the Second Edition

This expanded second edition offers more examples, deeper explanations, and clearer guidance than before. Beyond faster fretboard mastery, its dynamic content weaves together varied practice exercises and analytical tools—helping you build confidence in intervals, chord construction, arpeggios, modes, and essential music theory.

This book is for you if you:

Struggling to find the right notes, even when playing simple melodies?

Ready to move beyond basic strumming and singing, but don't know where to start?

Wanting to improvise solos, but constantly hitting wrong notes?

Getting lost on the neck whenever your hand shifts to a new position?

Feeling overwhelmed by endless fingering patterns?

Looking to unlock a deeper, more complete understanding of the guitar?

One book, endless possibilities. Building Block Image Memory Methods has you covered!

Final, Enhances Practices Everywhere 》

THE Applications

Chapter EIGHT : Uses of Interval and Double-Stop

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Previously, it has mentioned that we want to use a building block graphic to learn about relative positions of interval, regardless of improvisation or the emotional handling and applications represented by interval, it is quite important. Next, we will use double stop to practice handling aural effects of interval and interval positions on a fretboard.

▲Perfect Fifth & Perfect Fourth

Taking scales as an example, 1st note and 5th note have a relation of a perfect fifth and 1st and 4th have a perfect fourth relation. Therefore, their relative positions on the fretboard are:

If we put the 5th note and the octave 1st note together to view, hasn’t their interval then become a perfect fourth?

In addition to 1-5 notes in the scale, by following the scale moving up in an ascending direction, 2-6, 3-7, 4-1, 5-2 and 6-3 all have the same interval relation, only 7-4 will be a diminished fifth, and 4-7 is an augmented fourth which has the same distance as a diminished fifth.

● In Rock n’ roll music, the double-stop of fifth and fourth intervals often use a ‘Power Chord’ to present.

● There are 2 ways to find a perfect fifth of a musical note on a fretboard:

(a) When an index finger presses on that certain musical note

(b) When it’s not an index finger pressing on that certain musical note

<1>

[Track-19]

<2>

[Track-20]

In addition to the 2nd and 3rd strings, an interval of fourth is right on a neighboring string located on the same fret.

<1>

[Track-21]

<2>

[Track-22]

☆ Attention please: if it has crossed to the 2nd string, there will be a change of 1 fret.

▲Major / Minor Third

Taking scales as one example, 1st note and 3rd note have a relation of a major third, therefore, 1st note and ^b3 note is a minor third. Their relative positions on a fretboard are as below:

● A distance of a third interval is very suitable for double-stop performance and this is because a chord is comprised of musical notes which are piling up with a third interval. When we follow a scale in an ascending direction to play a third interval double-stop, its format actually will be:

1-3 Major Third

2-4 Minor Third

3-5 Minor Third

4-6 Major Third

5-7 Major Third

6-1 Minor Third

7-2 Minor Third

Therefore when we play melodic lines of a third interval double stop, you may approximately follow this format for your playing.

<1>

[Track-23]

<2>

[Track-24]

▲Major / Minor Sixth

● The distance of a sixth is also very suitable for double-stop playing and this is because it is also an inversion of a third interval but with different tastes.

The arrangement of a major and a minor sixth in a scale are as below:

1-6 Major si...

Table of contents

• FOREWORDS
• THE FUNDAMENTALS
• THE PRACTICE
• THE Applications
• Conclusion : How to Practice
• Answers
• Author