Understanding Guitar Neck Layout...

www.andrewwasso...
Andrew Wasson of Creative Guitar Studio answers questions from off of his Guitar Blog website...
Q). I started out on a cheap classical, then I went over to a steel string acoustic for awhile, and I've now moved onto an electric guitar. The thing is, I am confused as to why and how the necks have gone from shorter to much longer on the electric. Because I am still trying to figure out how to play and organize theory on the guitar, I was wondering if you could explain why the neck can be different sizes on different guitars. Overall, I'm curious to know - how the guitar neck is laid out.
Thomas -- Germany
A). I also recall wondering the exact same thing with regard to the guitar neck layout when I was learning to play. One statement (that an old guitar teacher made) on this topic that has always stuck with me through the years is, "The guitar neck is really only 5 frets long." Now, at first this statement might seem quite strange, and perhaps even somewhat baffling! Obviously, just by looking at the neck, it isn't 5 frets long. However, in the video I run through a few examples to help you to completely understand this statement. One of the best ways you can really get to know your neck is by doing a 3-part practice study that involves; Training Yourself on Music Reading, Drawing all the notes on a piece of guitar fingerboard work-sheet paper, and through the study of all of the scale & arpeggio patterns.
Start with the 5-fret principle we discuss here, it will be an excellent beginning for you to carry on from.
As always, Thanks for writing in!
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[@andrewwasson]

**VISIT MY BLOGGER PAGE** Daily posts for the guitar player... creativeguitarstudio.blogspot.ca/

[@andrewwasson]

Thanks a million for the very kind words here Tom... Much appreciated, and all the very best to you - thanks for watching! - Andrew

[@tedrowland1345]

Andrew, 3 years later and someone is still learning. Thank You.

[@kishiii]

That someone is.. ME

[@NeenaAndPapa]

Thank you for taking the time to produce this video. It provides me with more knowledge as I continue to learn guitar!

[@koodeeking]

It took me over 6 weeks of staring at the neck of my guitar to figure all this out from tuning to the 5th fret to the congruent notes along the whole neck to the subtraction between the open B and G strings...I am not so sure I would rather done it any other way but I KNOW there are those out that that will appreciate this information as much as I do...kinda too little too late but I had no internet at that time...I am just over 2 months into this ax and it's obvious you have more to offer..TY!

[@Blackbirdmk22]

Thats your perception of what is perfect tuning/intervals on the guitar. As much as you want to put logic and theory in your statement, the guitar and music is an art. Its all about expression, not perfection. This video really helped me see the guitar as it is. Thanks Andrew for the mind blowing free information!

[@DD1AUF]

Andrew ,You just made my Day. Ive just figured it out!!!!! Ive been playing for years.Used to read Music when I took Piano lessons @7 yrs old.But when I picked up a Guitar to follow in My Dads footsteps i had forgotten it all.So it hasn't helped me with my playing.Im going to be playing rythym guitar @ this years Beatle Convention with my Dad's Band.They have been doing it 30 years,and played with the likes of Denny Laine.You have helped make me less nervous.Thanks Alot.Good Lesson Bud.Ryan

[@oribt1]

I think you are by far one of the best guitar teachers in youtube,at least for theory.

[@Phantasiis]

Andrew, you expanded my guitar neck layout. Thank you

[@music100vid]

I pretty much memorized the notes to the 5th fret and now I see how I might memorize the next 5 fret section by what you've explained here. Since I've started making myself read the music from the staff it has helped me to memorize the notes on the fret board just as you said. At first it was very slow but once I found myself reading and playing one of the easier tunes, I was encouraged. Then making myself struggle through some more difficult ones I see that my speed of learning has accelerated and I can play tunes up to speed that I was previously struggling with several months ago, so, don't give up people! Some of the tunes I'm trying now run up into the 5th to 10th fret range, which is why I searched for a video that would help and found this. Thank you for posting it.

[@BillEvans007]

Very helpful Andrew. As always. Best wishes for Christmas. Bill (Shrewsbury, UK).

[@Tomsjamb]

Thank You so much for sharing all the wisdom you have been gifted with for many years of study, I have truly learnt so much fron these video's. Blessings to You

[@BossingTanTan]

merry christmas andrew god bless you...and your family...

[@BrianBoles]

Major "aha" moment with this video. Thanks Andrew!

[@LifesAdventures555]

I am always amazed at your technical knowledge of the guitar. This is very interesting information. Now would you tell us/me why the notes of the open strings are as they are. Why is there the strings EADGBE why not DGBEAD? You and Marty and Griff are the best on YOUTube

[@BarchettaValveAmp]

Its good to just find all of the E's on the guitar , then all of the A's etc.. Keep drawing it out too. You'll train your photographic memory. Then play only the notes within a 3 fret area and name them as you play.

[@djsranger]

By far the simplest explanation of such an important concept.

[@TheRitilinkid]

Huh I never thought about it Five what a number . All over the neck and playing by ear ! Thanks

[@sherriandalan]

Another great lesson, my teacher is lacking. Thanks.

[@downhill240]

Great lesson Sir!

[@ireneweand6994]

Thank You! I have been drawing this out and have been looking,full well knowing that there had to be a pattern. Looking at My drawings and watching this,slowly lights are getting brighter. NOW! If I could just stretch My fingers a bit more!

[@openthedoorradio4660]

these are really nice lessons.... hard to teach your own kids .. thank-you thank-you thank-you

[@atomick4u]

Please tell me how you feel about guitar neck width at the nut. Why are electric guitars are 1 5/8", 1 11/16" for a six string generally speaking and acoustic and/or nylon string necks are 1 7/8" or 2 " wide at the nut. Why electric guitar necks widen as the get closer to the heel when some Nylon String guitars are straighter all the way down the neck. Do you think that the thinner neck widths lead to Carpal tunnel syndrome for some players ? What about playing an A Major Chord with 3 fingers and not muting other strings? Have you checked out a Zarley Wide Neck Guitar or a Big Lou Guitar or the Warmoth Superwide Neck?

[@မဂ္လာပါခ်စ္သူ]

So,v good god bless you...great lesson

[@JoeJaeger]

Andrew, great video here bud. Merry Xmas.

[@telephone97]

Great lesson,

[@gtrdoc911]

first look up "interval (music)" on wiki & scroll down the page to the table that shows the12 semitone intervals & what they're called. You'll see there's no such thing as a "minor 4th"(or major 4th either) e.g. on c scale, c note to f note is known as a "perfect 4th". The semitone below that is the major third(i.e. e note). Don't confuse note intervals with chord nomenclature esp. in reference to minor and major. Hope that helps:)

[@JackWayneKato]

Thanks for sharing, very good info!

[@AT-wx2bw]

Very informative video. Thank you.

[@reneebatwin2959]

Does it work with all the notes? Lets say i try and find all the other Bs so i just count 5, then 4 then 5 ext. Or does this only work for the E

[@Chris-cf2kp]

Ted Green advocated this 5 fret principle, in his Chord Chemistry book for example. Milkes Okazaki has a book which delves heavily into the symmetry of the individual notes and intervals between them on the fretboard too called Fundamentals of Guitar, a very insightful book. Guitarists should learn the neck before they ever begin to learn anything else with the instrument.

[@kenhaagensen2404]

Major help, thanks

[@cloudgripp]

thanks man. awesome!

[@Dani10camilo]

If anyone could give me this quick help, is a major 3rd the same as a minor 4th? thx

[@colehoover5708]

ohh!!! so every note is in a 5 fret interval except for the 4 fret one?

[@ayoenoch]

so useful....thenk you

[@jakebauman1501]

Hah hah tuning in...

[@Neilrrc37]

I find the keyboard easier to learn generally.