How to Learn the Notes of the Fretboard (7 Step Fool Proof Formula)

In today’s brand-new video I’m going to take you through a 7 step process that will help you learn every single note on the fingerboard. It’s also going to help you organise things like key signatures and chord changes on the fly, and once you can handle those kinds of concepts in your head, the doors are blown wide open!
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[@Nextsession271]

57-year-old newbie here. Only had my 1st base ever for 11 days. This seems doable. Thank you for sharing your expertise.

[@nashavi5738]

From a novice on bass playing, THANK YOU SIR. Great instructions. I never played a musical instrument before, but at the age of 54 I decided to learn bass because my favorite musicians play a bass (Geddy Lee, Larry Graham & Joseph 'Lucky' Scott).

[@inspectorbudget]

You've got good taste in bassists!

[@johnrutherford4265]

Same I produce electric music mainly bass based. Never learned scales properly till 52 Just picked up a bass and this is a great exercise. Good teachers just have knack . The blessings of mid life …. Time to explore our passion/ religion if you will.

[@AZWorm41]

Ditto, all that. But mine are Geddy Lee, Rob Trujillo, Steve Harris and Billy Sheehan.

[@alobodrumdonerbuyrun1465]

i have been playing bass without any knowledge of theory and not even a single note. decided to learn music theory and find this video. i started practicing and today is the day 4 and i learn every single note on the fred. it felt amazing.

[@HowToBass]

Still my favourite yt channel after all these years. This method is pretty much how I learned the notes on the fretboard. It makes things like improvising and sight reading way easier.

[@lukkaturi]

I agree. Check also Bass Buzz, it's a great channel!

[@U2BROTHR]

This is exactly the exercise I needed in my life. Bass player for 20 years and never learned the name of a single note. I can now identify the C, F, Bflat positions on the bass. Thank you Scott!

[@Chrislarkin70]

@Alan Champagne yes it will. I'm on stage six and it's already making a huge difference. It has taken me aaaages (three months maybe?) BUT I only to 10 minutes on this each time I practice and it steadily getting easier ...

[@yantheyam5622]

in which tuning?

[@ditorresyt]

@@Chrislarkin70 you can speed this up by learning 2 strings only. The other 2 strings will always be 2 frets higher compared to the lower strings. For example: C on the E string will tell you that the C on the D string will be 2 frets higher. The same for the A and G strings. So by memorising the E and A string you automatically knows the D and G strings.

[@Chrislarkin70]

@@yantheyam5622 standard EADG

[@Chrislarkin70]

@@ditorresyt hi, thanks I get what you're saying. But I already know where to find the octave. The point of this exercise is to learn each note by heart, so, say you're looking at fourth fret G string, you know it's a B without having to look at the second fret on the A string to check.

[@amysscentsandsongs]

Scott, this has helped me so much. I will be 65 soon and play the piano and guitar (the latter by ear), but just picked up a bass two months ago for the first time. I went from not knowing where a single note was on the fretboard to being very comfortable after using your approach, and now reading is coming so much easier. Thank you, many times over. ❤️

[@Chrislarkin70]

I've reached level six of this after about three months - spending about 10 mins on it each time I pick up the bass. It does get easier towards the end (stage 5 was much quicker than stage 4 cos you already know the cycle of fourths and the note positions). It's made a huge difference to my playing and confidence already. Excited to move onto stage 7 and speed it up! (After this, next project is re-visit chord tones, armed with my new fretboard knowledge.) Thanks Scott!

[@michamarkuszewski4546]

I love how there are like seven videos with that same title on this channel

[@Bucket-dx3ju]

true

[@michamarkuszewski4546]

@@Bucket-dx3ju true but also a good thing tbh

[@ixa-3140]

Diffrent methods, diffrent ways, diffrent paths. Diffrent minds are at varying levels of intelligence and understanding. Everyone can learn here.

[@Owenrobot]

As well as a paid course lol

[@feronmeadekunle4602]

Hahaahaha you already know

[@Blak7uerilla]

I haven't attempted to play my bass in over a decade. However, watching this channel and all the great exercises has me feeling like I need to. Thanks Scott.

[@manny75586]

Ages ago, my double bass professor had me do exercises like these. They really helped. He also had me, for example, play E major in open position. Then move up 2 positions (frets in electric bass world) and play E major from there. Move up 2 more and on until the octave. It really helped to not only learn the scales but also learn the notes. But I'd definitely not suggest the scales exercise to a person who doesn't know the exercises in this video first.

[@darklight7841]

00:00 Intro 01:04 Circle of Fifths 01:51 The Twelve Notes 02:11 Step 1. Get familiar with the exercise 03:32 Step 2. Break the circle into groups of 3 05:49 Step 3. Introduce the metronome (40 bpm) 07:10 Step 4. Run the entire circle 07:37 Step 5. Break the circle into pairs 08:49 Step 6. The entire circle 09:16 Step 7. Increase the speed (80 bpm) 10:35 Should you mix it up the exercises? 10:46 Outro

[@davelutter396]

Scott, thank you So much. 67 years young, just picked up a Bass and I couldn't for the life of me figure out how what/where the Notes are. then I saw this video. And the exercises are broken down perfectly for newbies.

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

I come here for my left hand piano technique, but my daughter loaned me her ukulele. This was brilliant. I'll see you in the time it takes. Merci beaucoup.

[@trishkerr3464]

Excellent exercise! coming from the piano the fret board has always looked like a daunting blank canvas but starting to see it in intervals is a great way to make the connections

[@enoodle]

It's funny I always feel the opposite way looking at more than one scale of a keyboard lol I lose track so easily

[@gfj06]

Okay I'm 15 and have been playing for about a year and always thought your videos were overcomplicated nonsense, but after doing this for 6 minutes and getting fluent on the first three notes I realized that this is very helpful. Thank you so much.

[@LanceWillMakeIt]

I think its awesome that you actually share this awesome method and dont just keep it to yourself and in person students. Ive been enjoying grinding out these steps and being excited for what the next level is. Thanks

[@bobstaples7147]

Thanks Scott, Been playing by ear since 1971, it's time to learn how to play the Bass!!

[@carmens3685]

I can RELATE!!

[@noobymike-michaelkim5354]

Scott, this exercise has been saving me. I've been trying to learn how to read sheet music well, but never knew where to start, but knowing where my exact needed note is located, it'll be a heck if a lot easier. Thank you.

[@benvantende]

Thanks man for this. I have been playing bass for like 30 years without getting into the notes. This is real helpful for a better understanding of the fret board. I am doing the exercises step by step. Three notes a week. Also playing in my mind. Mind bass! Loving it.

[@Cream.cheese]

Oh my god finally a good tutorial thanks man i have been wanting to learn the bass since 6 months ago i have been watching tutorials and got nothing out of it this is actually the first one that though me something

[@GregsBassWorld]

This video came out at the perfect time. I haven't played fretless in over a decade and I'm committed to working on my intonation: all 12 keys over a drone, no metronome until I can get the pitches right. Sweet serendipity!

[@terjelangeland9633]

I've played for four years and watched a number of other videos on mastering the fretboard, but never got very far. This one, so simple method has finally got me on the way to nailing it. Wish I'd stumbled across it much sooner. Thanks, Scott!!

[@skiphoffenflaven8004]

I am so looking forward to this process. A million thanks!

[@bean9seventy]

playing the same note in different areas of the fret board is so effective guys ,,, i would say perhaps 40% of my bass jams employ that method somewhere ,, most common i found over the years is open A joined with 5th fret A ,, then open D with 2 positions of D = D on 5th fret of A string & D on 10th fret of E string ,, thanks scott

[@feronmeadekunle4602]

When I see tutorials from SBL I click like and save to my bass lessons playlist. Scott's the best teacher i've experienced so far

[@Ksantipacat]

I am learning guitar as a classically trained singer. I was wondering why you go counter-clockwise on the circle, rather than clockwise? Thanks, this was a very helpful video!

[@MancoBlanco]

i assume because going anti-clockwise is in "fourths", a fourth is 5 semitones away from the root, and so each string on the bass is a fourth away from the last. (notice "E, A, D and G" appear in succession when you go counter-clockwise (the notes of the strings)

[@ronwright4684]

Scott, one of the best and I might add humbling videos. I am working through the exercises and find that I did not know my fretboard like I thought I had. I am learning it now.

[@joescarpadventures]

Looks like a good exercise for learning all the note names in the first 12 frets! Knowledge is power!

[@auralfury]

excellent way to memorize the notes by breaking them down into 3's... great instruction Scott...thanx!!

[@MARLONdaman]

THANK YOU SCOTT! THAT IS THE BEST COURSE ON LEARNING THE BASS NOTES I HAVE EVER HEARD!

[@davidsmythe7645]

I’m in doing this now for about two weeks and yes it does work

[@malcolmmellon8692]

Thanks Scott! This is so what I need. I got a bass 2 months ago and started learning sporadically with online lessons (just through an interface and active speakers) . I might just have to sign up to your courses!!! I'm almost 70 so started a bit late, and I have a 5 string - I wonder if I should include the B string in this or just go get a 4 string and stop trying to run before I can walk???

[@allanvictormonteroadames7013]

I'm learning the guitar and I watch your videos anyway, you are a pretty good teacher bro.

[@cristinapavesi4729]

wow, great, thank you for this video, I've been struggling with learnining the notes on the frettboard since ever but this is really a game changer!

[@IanJones942]

3:56 Thank you for the onscreen diagram!

[@edmundisalcido3663]

Scotts Bass Lessons are AWESOME!......

[@Jacob-tj8ig]

I played for years and while I did understand where the notes were by counting, I just couldn't bring myself to memorize the D and G string. The other came naturally from playing guitar chords. But what I did was that when I was going to restring the bass, I only put on the D and G and I forced myself to play like that for a week and learn new songs with only those strings. After that I had no problem and I just put on the other two and felt fluent in a way I hadn't before.

[@interfecirelinquo1360]

TYVM Scott!!! Iv been trying to inprint that bloody thing to me head for ever! Time to learn the Music Alphabet on Bass!

[@alexev4560]

I used to play BASS like about 5 years learning it from random poor sources, not so far I tried to return. it is so painful not knowing a whole fretboard. My guitarist is fan of different sub-subcultural things. It is OK when we play classic rock songs or so, but when he goes with different bluses with tons of slash bass chords and different 6-9-11 I feel so lost T_T. One day I figure positions of each note and I'll be back! Let the Power of BASS Flows Through You and Us ALL!

[@brandonallenbass]

Best lesson to learn the fretboard by far!!!!

[@AndreaGrandi]

Wow! This is EXACTLY what I was looking for today 😲 I’m already subscribed to SBL and completed the base course. I wanted something to help me to learn the fretboard and this is it! Thanks Scott!

[@jcsdmusic]

Thank you so much Scott!

[@cassius9120]

Thank you so much for all that you invest to help others. 1 question I have is why not go clockwise in 5ths and get into the sharps rather than 4ths and flats. Seems like I think in sharps more. Thanks for your feedback.

[@donaldbosquez8868]

Wow. I started these 7 steps today and find it a challenge. When you said don't memorize patterns, I knew I was in trouble....lol. For some reason the flats are really causing me to stumble, but I'm trusting the process.

[@randallmoore4000]

Wish the lesson book was still active. Seems like a great method. Thanks for the content.

[@devinebass]

Damn...we're having some issues with the workbook links breaking, thanks for the heads up! You can find the workbook at this link, scroll down under the video! scottsbasslessons.com/blog/how-to-master-your-entire-fretboard-in-7-steps

[@ggauche3465]

This is great and very helpful! I think have the structure of the circle is the key! Thank you for this!

[@beethfridge]

Thank you so much! I now understood all the fretboard in one video!

[@JeanMichel-vh7hn]

Thanks a lot Scott. I've been a beginner for so long that I tend to want to give up because I haven't found good, effective ways of learning before this day. I'm going to roll up my sleeves and get serious about it, because I love this instrument and I want to vibrate with it like crazy. I really like your technique, because it seems simple to me, and above all, very effective. But also, I have to figure out how to change my strings. I keep breaking the E string while trying to tune it, but it breaks long before I get to E, it breaks when it reaches E flat!?! Many thanks again. And then yes, I downloaded your tutorial.

[@devinebass]

If you keep breaking strings, take your bass to a tech/luthier and have them take a look at it! They should not be breaking when they reach Eb!!

[@whatsleft0]

Love your approach to building knowledge incrementally. You are the best bass instructor in the world (I'm pretty sure)!

[@msyafiqmr]

This is really helpful. Thank SBL for the lesson, you doing a great job. I really appreciate it 😇

[@devinebass]

🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@noelmasih2130]

Thank you Scott for all your help and teachings. Priceless.

[@laurieslockdownmusicroom1822]

For the circle of fifths I'd strong recommend learning it as you key signatures for sheet music at the same time. E.g C (neutral), G (1 sharp), D (2 sharps) etc etc. Works backwards for the flats!

[@chrisegonmusic]

That makes sense

[@cmenacez8748]

If I’m wrong please let me know but I thought this was the circle of 4ths , F is the 4th of C and B flat the 4th of F and so on. Either way great exercise and thanks for all the great videos they are a huge help!!

[@badboyhotstar]

It is. Anytime someone is talking bout the circle of 5th just assume they're also talking about the 4th too.

[@ciroosimo5433]

The cicle of 4ths is is the cicle of 5ths just "anticlockwise". If you read it the clockwise way, they are all 5ths. 4ths is more relatable for bass players because standard intonation is by 4ths.

[@oluwatobiadegoke13]

I play the guitar and I find this really helpful.

[@anythingspossiblemusic]

Practice, practice, practice. Which bass is that? Lovely natural colour.

[@ugifr9538]

a custom bass you can learn more in I found my dream bass vid

[@Stoitism]

Its an early ken smith I think

[@strat0871]

@@Stoitism Right, it is.

[@dm4728]

@@strat0871 I think Scott made a video about this bass a year or so back

[@bobluking5401]

I'm down with this. Such a simple idea, now that you've described it. Thanks.

[@Mrpsblobsoflowendmung]

Damn that bass, I watched it all the way even tho I know all the notes cause that Vinny tactic goodness is just to nice

[@mikey8247]

You should do an episode with thundercat

[@jaimekemp9181]

I enjoy your informational videos. It helps struggling bass players like me out so much

[@lukelemke2783]

Thanks for this! I'll be working on this in the coming weeks... Or however long it ends up taking, haha

[@joseywhails]

this is great stuff man, thank you! looking at the players path. i like how it's about being musical, not just theory and scales. i find when you practice running through scales and whatnot w/o being musical it sounds in your playing. ✌

[@rejerh8731]

And below the 12th fret? Same 7 steps? Love the process!!! Thanks a lot

[@Thegbear]

If you memorise above the 12th fret, you will already know what’s under it when you’re done.

[@federicovillarroel1253]

Thank you Scott

[@Richard_Garner]

Great exercise! My only (small) criticism 🧐is that *going counterclockwise*, it’s really the circle of fourths in the exercise… because (going counterclockwise like that) you’re moving from fourth to fourth. The circle of fifths actually moves in a *clockwise* fashion… from fifth to fifth.

[@ALavaPenguin]

Also a fun way to learn compared to all the other ones I have found

[@hectorrascon9884]

Scott you are an awesome teacher👌

[@chrisggoodwin777]

I didn't realize "SBL" stood for "Scott's Batman Lessons" until this video... 😂 On a serious "note," this is a great exercise, and like many of your videos, I wish I'd been armed with this 20 years ago

[@murth9252]

Was thinking the same thing Chris but as the old Chinese proverb says, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” 🙂 Greetings from Ireland ! ☘☘☘

[@chrisggoodwin777]

@@murth9252 well said 😁

[@wallace_nelson]

Great Video. Thanks For Sharing

[@kennyroadknight1771]

Big thankyou Scott. 🎸✌️

[@frederic_viennot]

AWESOME !!!!!! makes me pick my PB again and practice :)

[@opheliaambrose943]

I love the transition

[@bntaft5133]

Thank you, Scott.

[@fight-centermunster8198]

absolutely what I needed! thanks!!!

[@mujari]

so i've been playing for 15 years. i know the notes...in STANDARD tuning. I started at a church and went down a full step and kept doing "+2" in my head for each note. but this helped to learn the fretboard all over again

[@flanneljoe7473]

Thanks for all you do. I've learned a ton here.

[@ronniechun-akana6433]

My opinion is that you have found a better way to teach music theory so bass player can understand and learn easier and retain what is learn. Prior it has been too much over the top, with player that are very deep in thier craft, Thanks.

[@TyroneCCloud]

That's really a great lesson, I'm sure it will help to improve!

[@maxwellgordon9868]

This helped a lot thank you very much.

[@devinebass]

Glad you found it useful!!

[@clintonmak8230]

Thanks Scott

[@OlandoMcCall]

Well I got work to do, thanks Scott.

[@joshx9746]

This exercise is great and really helping me. Thanks !

[@flapp-jck1226]

was kind of improvement have you seen so far, I’m also about to start the exercise but I just wanna know what will this result in? Will I be able to play bass fills? Be able to follow progressions?

[@joshx9746]

@@flapp-jck1226 I'm a beginner, so I'm just trying to remember where all the notes are. And it is helping me remember. I've played piano my whole life, now I've just started learning bass

[@flapp-jck1226]

@@joshx9746 but do you think knowing all the notes has benefits? what benefits are there?😅

[@seanbowen6499]

Thanks Scott 😊

[@devinebass]

Thanks for watching! 👊🏻

[@denislemelin7653]

Nice Batman input ! Did a little time travel thing there .

[@flipandbounce]

After starting with scales I did notice this & thought I gotta remember where all these notes are. Now BOOM a formula? Ha ha lucky I have patience. Thank you I'm on it. :-)

[@waldyeti3744]

The exercise is good, but I’d combine it with learning the octaves of your fretboard. It helps massively to remember imho because you basically only need to know the lower two strings and everything else is just the octave. Together with your exercise I think it’s the fastest way to learn the fretboard

[@benjaminbrown2159]

I’m a beginner. Love the exercise. How do I find the notes because I’m just a beginner just picking up bass a five string

[@benjaminhigham3624]

Yes I was wondering that too. On the download there is only the first three.

[@thurnishaley5368]

The order of the Notes goes A Bb B C Db D Eb E F Gb G Ab After Ab is restarts at A. With that information in mind, you can count the frets on your bass to find the notes you want. For a Five string, your thickest string is usually tuned to the Note B, so when you press that string to the the first fret it changes to C, if you press it to the second fret it changes the note to a Db, the third fret(with the dot) is D, and it continues on. When you get to the 10th fret, the order of the notes rolls back to A, then at the 12 fret the note is B and its almost like youre playing the open string again. E is the next thickest string, you can count the notes the same way here, except this time you start from E, the first fret being F, second being Gb, and so on.

[@dawnnwilliams2946]

I learned the notes very similar to this method though not quite as complex, basically just step one will do if you do it five min. A day. Anyway you can print out a fretboard map which I think is better than going fret by fret to find each note..

[@adamdavidvideos]

I drew a giant poster by hand on a posterboard with a straight edge and a sharpie and put it on the wall of my practice room, the process of having to write it out by hand will help you learn it initially, and then staring at it everyday while you practice will glue it into your brain

[@HarryR1]

Just search “bass fretboard notes” in google images . There are lots of diagrams showing where all the notes are.

[@paulasturi4199]

Thanks, Scott! This is great stuff!

[@jonathanchevallier7046]

I have some work ahead me ! Thank you for all your tips ;-)

[@janithdassanayaka4599]

This is literally my goal for playing right now 😂 how you hearing my prayers 😂

[@sabin97]

scot hears everyone's prayers...

[@lauraanne5175]

Im with you.

[@sigiriabeysekara8723]

2:34 Guys... i know he said not to memorize patterns... but is it ok for me to memorize the octave patterns.....you know.., two frets in front and two strings down? G --|--|--|--| C |--|--|--|--|--|--|--| D --|--|--|--|--|--|--|--|--|--|--|--| A --|--| C |--|--|--|--|--|--|--|--|--| E --|--|--|--|--|--|--|--|--|--|--|--| That kinda pattern?

[@johnbehan1526]

@@sigiriabeysekara8723 aaargh. Well spotted and no, it won't really hurt to do that, but do the exercise as taught. Firstly, realise that any pattern on those strings also runs through the 2nd and 3rd strings, displaced 7 frets up/5 frets down, since all four strings are tuned in a sequence of ascending fifths. Any scale you can make from the tempered 12-note palette will make repeating, geometric patterns all over the fretboard. When I was a teen learning guitar, *-a long time ago-* all I wanted was a few shapes I could play really fast, but I learned f-all about the harmonic structure of music that a bassist needs to fit in between other musicians. To learn and use the different position patterns for a bunch of scales, you need to know where to find those root notes first. This is about intuitively knowing where any given notes are ...without recourse to shapes and patterns. I think the reason for deliberately going backwards around the circle of fifths (or circle of fourths) is to break those patterns up, while showing you some fourth/fifth intervals you can use to navigate scales and modulations in future. Listen to your teacher, don't be me.

[@sigiriabeysekara8723]

@@johnbehan1526 thanks a whole bunch .... 👍👍👍👍👊👊👊 this really helped....

[@jorgeavce3276]

I did it string by string. Learned all the notes in one string and then moved on to the next until I "unlocked" all of them. Great video❤

[@mauriceboone7865]

How long did it take you to learn the entire fretboard

[@RonInNapa]

You have both courage and patience. I admire that.

[@smartbart015]

I watched this video last night, so today I thought: let's try this, I already have a good knowledge of music theory so I thought: how hard can it be?? Maybe I can even skip steps and do the whole exercise in 2 days! The answer is NO. I started with C, F and Bb. When I can hit all the C's, I go to F and Bb, but when I come back from Bb to C it seems I have to relearn C again, especially higher up on the strings. Same goes for F and Bb. This process kept repeating itself during my practice session. So... Step 1 will probably take me at least a month :D

[@skyusstarlet6514]

I really like how broken down he makes it

[@mrmufasio]

Scott! Great lesson, thank you. I will be practicing this more often to master the fretboard. Cheers! Ps. Love the room your in. Very warm and mellow

[@tituscomer754]

This is actually so helpful!! Thanks Scott🙏🤙🏻

[@davekat4680]

Thank you Scott 👍

[@gastonlamarque4979]

Great lesson Scott👍🏼

[@sabin97]

damn scott.....that was a jaco-esque intro. you always bring it!

[@basilreardon5783]

Thanks sooo much, your great .

[@Tracer9GTRider8]

What's the Berry Gordy quote from his documentary? Something like "400 years, same 12 fu*king notes" 😂

[@jaredraga]

2:14 circle of fifths. each note on each string ascending and back