Unlock the fretboard with three notes per string: learn the 3nps system with 85% less memorization

[@fretscience]

*NEW:* I'm currently rolling out *Improv 101,* a step-by-step improvisation course for guitarists of _all ability levels_ (there are _no_ prerequisites other than being able to physically play single-note lines on your guitar). You can get early access on Patreon patreon.com/fretscience or learn more at fretscience.com/2024/10/25/fret-science-improv-101/ Fret Science is a new and robust method for understanding the fretboard (learning all of your scales, arpeggios, and chords) with _dramatically_ less memorization. And then using that knowledge to improvise and play freely in _any_ style of music. The core method for learning scales and chords is available _for free_ here on KZbin. If you're new to the channel, I invite you to check out the "Big Picture" video and recommended video viewing order here: kzbin.info/aero/PLMuHlX9RiFi1L1RdC0CzYa1qxZllD5Ujz&si=cOp25GnXrL28rbLQ If you want to go deeper or interact with me directly, come join me on Patreon patreon.com/fretscience where I'm sharing exclusive new lessons, breaking down classic solos, and rolling out a new improvisation method that will help guitarists of _all ability levels_ learn to improvise confidently over chord changes in any style. You can also connect with me at fretscience.com or support my work with a donation at buymeacoffee.com/fretscience 🎸🧪🤘

[@GB-rb1up]

I accidentally figured this out one day when I imagined having a 100 string guitar. I saw the pattern repeating itself over and over. Instead of having learned 7 patterns of the major scale, I know them all in 1 easy universal pattern! And switching modes is a breeze! I tried to show my guitar playing friends but I couldn't articulate it well enough. I felt like I was the only one who knew this. Thank you for this video. I'm showing it to everyone I know. You and your channel are a national treasure.

[@fretscience]

Much appreciated! 🎸🧪🤘

[@RobertDickert]

I’m a music theory nerd coming to guitar from keys. I saw an ad on KZbin for a paid program that teaches this technique. They purposefully tile the pattern incorrectly in the ad so it’s hard to guess and then do an infomercial hard-sell. I thought I basically got it anyway and didn’t buy. This video completely lays it out and is super clear…for free, so thank you! I had decided to go with the CAGED system’s 5 string system, but this video and one try on the bleachers exercise convinced me that the 7 string system is the way to go for learning the fretboard. This is the first video I’ve watched on this channel, but I subscribed and will be back.

[@fretscience]

Thanks, Robert! I highly recommend learning both the CAGED and 3nps approaches. They each end up being useful in different contexts, and there’s enough overlap that once you learn one, the other is very easy to pick up. Indeed, the 5-string CAGED scale pattern sits right inside the 3nps one. I find that the CAGED patterns gel better with pentatonic scales, making it even easier to go back and forth. My other videos cover all of that. This playlist is a decent ordering of the information: kzbin.info/aero/PLMuHlX9RiFi1L1RdC0CzYa1qxZllD5Ujz

[@RobertDickert]

@@fretscience Thanks, I will start with that playlist - looking forward to watching more of your content - great work!

[@danthegeetarman]

After so many years of watching lesson after lesson I thought I’d seen it all but after learning the rectangle and the stack, it simplified the fretboard in a way I never thought possible. Then to know how to seamlessly move into any mode based on the place of the rectangle or the stack was great, and now this is the icing on the cake. Now I can extend the modes all the up and down the fretboard using the known patterns. Can’t wait to practice this and implement it more. Thank you x1000 🙏🙏🙏

[@fretscience]

Thanks, Daniel! 🎸🧪🤘

[@MrRioso-ry1hb]

Yea, great video. If you want to learn a splendid concept, witch shows how to get access to ALL playable combinations and how to play them, you might want to watch this guy: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5CTq4OagputZ9E

[@ClintMoody]

UNBELIEVABLE! This is the single most effective method for learning this topic I’ve ever found. I literally went from not knowing anything but chords and basic octave locations to simple soloing in one night from these videos. I’m beyond impressed! Subscribed and buying the pdfs! WOWWWW

[@fretscience]

Much appreciated! 🎸🧪🤘

[@whyismyeyetwitching]

I’ve been playing guitar for 20 years and I’m just now getting into music theory. This is the first video I have come across that actually makes sense to me… I understand it. Thanks!

[@fretscience]

Glad you liked it…you may find some of my other videos helpful as well. I always try to make the explanations as clear as possible 🎸🧪🤘

[@thadstuart8544]

I already knew the 5 pentatonic patterns and full major scale patterns using caged. I've wanted to learn 3NPS and after watching your video and practicing for a few hours, I have it down. Previously, I only had all of the minor and major root notes memorized in the caged patterns. Thanks to you, I now know the scale degree for all 7 notes all across the fretboard. Much appreciated!

[@fretscience]

That’s great to hear! 🎸🧪🤘

[@zacharyrohrback]

Your content is the best I've come across. You changed my understanding of guitar and made it easy to swallow in the process. Even the downloadable cheat sheets are gold. Thank you, and I hope you continue making content as im sure it will change many young musicians understanding of the fretboard as it did mine.

[@fretscience]

Thanks, Zachary…your kind words are greatly appreciated! There’s more KZbin content on the way, as well as some other things brewing, so stay tuned 🎸🧪🤘

[@Anarcath]

This is the most important theory lesson I've ever come across.

[@fretscience]

Much appreciated, thanks! 🎸🧪🤘

[@vanmira]

I follow more than a dozen guitar KZbin channels and yours is the one that's taught me the most on navigating the fretboard. Thanks Keith!

[@fretscience]

Much appreciated, Amir! 🎸🧪🤘

[@MrRioso-ry1hb]

Yea, great video. If you want to learn a splendid concept, witch shows how to get access to ALL playable combinations and how to play them, you might want to watch this guy: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5CTq4OagputZ9E

[@maplechill75]

Easily one of the best guitar instruction videos I’ve ever seen!

[@fretscience]

Much appreciated! 🎸🧪🤘

[@MrRioso-ry1hb]

Yea, great video. If you want to learn a splendid concept, witch shows how to get access to ALL playable combinations and how to play them, you might want to watch this guy: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5CTq4OagputZ9E

[@MrRioso-ry1hb]

Yea, great video. If you want to learn a splendid concept, witch shows how to get access to ALL playable combinations and how to play them, you might want to watch this guy: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5CTq4OagputZ9E

[@cenntraru]

🆘 One serious problem with 3nps is bendings - it's pretty much impossible to bend with your fingers spreaded that much, so 3nps is just not practical compared to the 2nps shapes like pentatonics, only if you realize how critical bendings are in modern guitar play. That said tho, 3nps shines at learning all the notes on the fretboard and most importantly - learning the intervals. Memorizing triads is not enough, while learning and deeply understanding all the intervals leads to true mastery, where even alternative tunings become intuitive to use. So thank you sir 🙏 for putting the actual note numbers on the diagram, not just silly dots and XYZ symbols as they do in some other yt-channels.

[@fretscience]

I frequently play bends while using the 3nps patterns…you’re 100% correct that it’s next to impossible to do so in the lower fret ranges when you keep your fingers “in position” over the patterns, but by shifting your hand slightly, it’s very practical to bend the “middle” note up to the “upper” note anywhere on the fretboard, or to bend the upper note up to the upper note of the adjacent pattern. By shifting the hand slightly toward the nut, you can use your index and middle finger to bend the “lower” note up to the “middle” one. Often bends are held longer than other notes, so there’s time to make those small physical shifts. Perhaps I should do a video on that. It’s also fairly easy on the upper frets to do all this without shifting the hand. FWIW, I couldn’t agree more about the importance of understanding the intervals (that’s the topic of my next video 🤣). Thanks! 🎸🧪🤘

[@Beerbatter1962]

Wow. This is incredible. Being a visual guy, the graphics and animations showing how the patterns map onto the fretboard really does it for me. Bravo!

[@fretscience]

Glad it helped! 🎸🧪🤘

[@gabrieltepin]

The content quality of this channel is just absurd, this is one of the best videos available in the whole youtube, amazing

[@fretscience]

Thanks! 🎸🧪🤘

[@Kraatzman]

I really love your videos. I does take watching them a few times to start sinking in but the material is top notch. Please keep them coming. Some of the best training on YT.

[@fretscience]

Thanks, Steve! I’m always struggling with how much to pack into one video. I think that when I eventually make a video course, I’ll be able to make the videos more bite-sized, but it’s hard to convey the big picture without providing a bunch of “supporting evidence”. Once I have a good group of viewers who know what I mean by rectangles and stacks and 3nps pairs, that foundation will open up a lot of interesting smaller topics.

[@Kraatzman]

@@fretscience I believe your video's have the right amount of content. As with most training, ie. computer, music, etc. You need to watch a topic a few times for the material to sink in. This includes stopping at points and rewatching over till your ideas align with the watchers ingestion of the material. As a side note I like how you go into a topic and add suggestion of how to practice to make it stick. I also like the reference to other videos should you need to stop the current topic and rewatch to help it sink in. If I could add anything it would be adding more audible examples for beginner players, as not to hear just scale tones, but be able to break away from that for melodic sequences. Thanks again and please keep the videos coming.

[@fretscience]

@@Kraatzman I've had several requests for more ideas of what to practice, as well as more audio examples, so I'm trying to include more of those as I make new videos. I'm not yet fully set up to shoot and edit live video, but that's in the works too, as a complement to the animations. I 100% agree about needing to revisit materials over time as your understanding deepens. I'm starting to work on a video specifically about that 🤣🎸🧪🤘

[@dvanomm]

Awesome video although I’ll need to watch it a few more times to help it sink in. Thank you for the practice ideas …. those will help. You are really making some great videos. Thank you!!!

[@fretscience]

Much appreciated! 🎸🧪🤘

[@Steve-si8hx]

You under it ? I've watched it five times and I'm still confused just like the first time I watched it 😅

[@scottkidwellmusic9175]

That was a lot of information. I'll definitely be back to watch this video as I try to wrap my head around things Thank you!

[@fretscience]

Yes, definitely a lot packed into 18 minutes…glad you’re finding it worthwhile! 🎸🧪🤘

[@stylgen]

I dig it! You're videos literally structure my practice for the month.

[@fretscience]

That’s awesome to hear! 🎸🧪🤘

[@MrRioso-ry1hb]

Yea, great video. If you want to dig in deeper, get more structure ideas, you might want to learn a splendid concept, witch shows how to get access to ALL playable combinations and how to play them, you might want to watch this guy: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5CTq4OagputZ9E

[@boomerdell]

Absolutely love the logical way you approach these lessons -- thank you!

[@fretscience]

Much appreciated! 🎸🧪🤘

[@MrRioso-ry1hb]

Yea, great video. If you want to learn a splendid concept, witch shows how to get access to ALL playable combinations and how to play them, you might want to watch this guy: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5CTq4OagputZ9E

[@aboomer420]

So that's why my 3nps shredding I taught myself -sometimes- sounds good lol. Doing some of these patterns without knowing it simply because it was musically sound. I've begun a collage of my own cheat sheets (cant afford to purchase or i would) on my washing machine beside my guitar spot. Thanks again! You may see more comments from me today lol.

[@fretscience]

Keep ‘em coming…glad you’re here! 🎸🧪🤘

[@guloguloguy]

....OMG!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU, SOMUCH, KEITH!!!!!! THIS IS "SIMPLE",.... BUT ALSO, VERY "COMPLICATED/DENSE" INFORMATION!!!.... WHOA!!!!!! I HOPE THAT YOU'LL EXPLAIN "DOUBLE-STOPS"... AND HOW TO FIND PAIRS OF NOTES, THAT FIT PROPERLY, INTO ANY SCALE, MODE, OR KEY!!!...

[@fretscience]

I hope my “Instant Harmony” helps with double-stops. I may do another one on pentatonic and parallel 4ths double stops at some point 🎸🧪🤘

[@btbb3726]

Very helpful. Thank You! In terms of improvising I try to be very comfortable with the transitions between pentatonic positions and to know where the additional natural scale note fit in. This seems to do something like that but makes it more much more structured and visible. 👍🏼

[@fretscience]

A couple of my other videos are more explicitly about seeing the connections between pentatonic shapes and the major scale modes. I recommend checking out this one to see a new way to build modes on top of pentatonics: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKPYnH2Pfp2Ymbssi=xPPUXBsvzIQYWuMe

[@fretscience]

My video on CAGED and triads goes into it from another angle. The more ways you have of visualizing these connections, the more flexible you can be when improvising! 🎸🧪🤘

[@andrewjames7493]

There is a guy selling this information, you gave it to us. Thank you!

[@fretscience]

Sometimes it’s worthwhile to pay for a course (I’ve certainly bought a bunch of them over the years), but I strongly believe that good instruction in the basics should be available for free. As Radiohead said, “Anyone Can Play Guitar” 🎸🧪🤘

[@etangrun1406]

This is a very good technical explanation of the 3nps! I used your caged pdf with the triads to help me map all of the major triads into the 7 major scale shapes. I use this method instead of caged (although they overlap a lot) to open up the fret board. Love your videos. Keep them coming.

[@fretscience]

Thanks, Etan…glad it helped! 🎸🧪🤘

[@ll14m4n]

🔥Best mnemonics and infographics on the topic I've ever seen! Thank you! 🙏

[@Geotubest]

I´m not sure how long your channel has been around, but I think your presentations are brilliant and I believe over time you'll have quite the following. I´ll happily recommend your KZbin channel on some FB guitar pages I'm on. Cheers.

[@fretscience]

Thanks, George! I started the channel last November, so it’s still early days, and I greatly appreciate your reposts and referrals 🎸🧪🤘

[@katariina7697]

You went "I'm gonna teach people everything in one video."😅 My head feels like it exploded, but in a really good way. I really appreciate a video that shows us the big picture; there's plenty of videos on KZbin that show just parts of the system, so this was very needed. Thanks for being ingenious not only in comprehending complex systems but also in communicating them to others. I think I need to go and get some sleep now. :D

[@fretscience]

Yeah, my videos are “information dense”…no question. 🤣 And you’ve nailed what I’m trying to do, which is convey the big picture of how all the pieces hang together. Each of my videos has a piece of a bigger picture, and they all connect together. The great thing about KZbin is that you can go back and rewatch whichever parts you need to. The PDFs I make to go along with the videos also help as a shorthand reminder of all the main points.

[@katariina7697]

@@fretscience Love it, you're doing a fantastic job!

[@fretscience]

Much appreciated! 🎸🧪🤘

[@fretscience]

If you're new to the channel, I'd like to offer a warm welcome! To see how this video fits into the big picture of fretboard understanding, check out this overview video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqGmYmRrr89-n9k or download a FREE 12-page overview e-book: fretscience.myshopify.com/products/building-fretboard-fluency-the-big-picture-pdf-ebook Individual cheat sheets and a heavily discounted bundle are available for purchase at: fretscience.myshopify.com 🎸🧪🤘

[@lucaswinter9515]

I love the unification of your Rectangle and Stack system with the 3NPS system. With respect to memorizing the 3NPS pattern, I found Michael Pilliteire's excellent take on pattern recognition and navigation within it. I found his stuff referenced while trying to research some aggressively advertised fretboard unlocking system (might have been called Epiphany Lute or something, I can't recall). This is the sort of useful stuff that helps connect musicians to their instruments directly, similar to to the familiarity that a vocalist has with their instrument.

[@fretscience]

Thanks, I have found it highly useful to be able to use both systems and to be able to go back and forth seamlessly. Cheers! 🎸🧪🤘

[@cenntraru]

I hope you can mention the exotic scales some day. The Arabian, the Hiroshi, the Spanish and others, I feel like they are invaluable for expanding the mind, for breaking out of the pentatonic boxes, to just start listening the sound with your own ear and think with your own mind to realize that all "rules" are just guiding lines not dogmas.

[@fretscience]

I’m planning a video on how to see scales the way a piano player does, and with that approach, exotic scales become a lot easier to tackle

[@ItaloAyres]

I've been looking for a system-like way of navigating the fretboard for a while, I'll be definitely rewatching this video until it sinks in. Thank you for this thoughtful and well edited video, the moving charts made the all difference on improving clarity. I wonder if you'd have other similar insights on how arpeggios and chord shapes fit into the 3NPS (obviously by fully understanding the degrees pattern these should get kind of straightforward)

[@fretscience]

I do have an idea for how to visualize triads and 7th chords inside the 3nps system that I’m finding very useful in my own understanding of the fretboard. I want to do a video on playing harmonized lines first, but I’ll hopefully get to cover it soon…thanks for the suggestion! 🎸🧪🤘

[@nicomagrini7087]

Keep going Keith! Really nice video

[@fretscience]

Thanks, Nico! 🎸🧪🤘

[@NotFine]

Damn, thank you for this Im new to guitar and thought that there had to be a better way of learning scales than just brute force memorization Definitely made things make more sense

[@fretscience]

Glad it was helpful! 🎸🧪🤘

[@mesmogruvinski]

Thankyou SO much. This is pure gold.

[@fretscience]

Glad it helped! 🎸🧪🤘

[@circlemover]

I appreciate the work put into this excellent tutorial and thank you ! very interesting. While the graphic explanation is really well done, as a player, it would have been even more beneficial to demonstrate by playing each step on the guitar. I certainly would understand this system more if I could see the fingers walking the fretboard!

[@fretscience]

When I made this video, I didn’t have the equipment or know-how to do that, but I have started including live demonstrations in my more recent videos.

[@TomClarkSouthLondon]

So good I bought you a “Coffee!” 👍 Outstanding presentation 🙏🏽

[@fretscience]

Thanks, Tom! 🎸🧪🤘

[@JawnCoffee]

Seriously of people memorize the modes, this video is the icing on the cake. These 1 to 7 are literally the modes. Just learn ..i dont particularly like modes a lot.. 1 i. Ionian 2 dont dorian 3 particularly phrygian 4 like lydian 5 modes mixolydian 6 a aeolian 7 lot locrian. Then each of the modes are either a minor or major scale thats tweaked by 1 note unless its its locrian. Thats minor with b2 and b5. Its the only one with b5. Lydian is major scale with sharp 4 dorian is minor scale with raised 6. Mixolydian makes a dominant 7 chord becauseits a major scale with a flat 7. Just keep learning whatever you can. The 3 equally spaced shapes all have major 3s so each of those are either major, lydian or mixolydian I IVorV chords i know the 4 is above the root and the 5 is directly under i know the middle one is ionian ( major scale) the one under is the 5 so its mixolydian and the top one is the 4 chord or 4th mode lydian. Learn the major scale and its diatonic 7th chords, you wont regret it. Youll really sound like you know what your doing. You may not like jazz but a 7 chord placed in the right spot is 🤑. Even in heavy metal.

[@fretscience]

Everything you’ve written here (to the extent that I can understand your run-on sentences) is taught in my other videos. This video is showing another way to visualize the information that many guitarists find useful. If it’s not for you, feel free to move on and I’ll refund what you paid to watch it on the way out.

[@robbes7rh]

I really like how you integrate geometry and repeating patterns with scaler movement across the strings. Particularly how moving up or down by 3 produces a heptagon star pattern on a circle. That being said, I’m thankful I already know my scales cause thinking about applying these patterns to actual playing is giving me anxiety. What I can take away is it heightens my awareness of a scale or mode at virtually any position on the fretboard.

[@fretscience]

It takes some practice, but I found that they quickly become second nature. I think the insight you gain from building up those repetitions is well worth it 🎸🧪🤘

[@robbes7rh]

@@fretscience thanks. As I’ve thought about it, seeing these patterns across the strings and up and down the fretboard can only be a good thing. I need to watch the video again with a more receptive and clear state of mind.

[@fretscience]

@robbes7rh I deeply believe that the more strategies you have for understanding and applying music building blocks like scales and arpeggios on the fretboard, the more flexible you can become as a player. I personally use the 3nps patterns more for shifting horizontally than I do for playing across the strings. It’s gaining that freedom to play anywhere on the neck that’s the real goal.

[@mohammadshams9294]

Fascinating!

[@dyerk]

Can't wait for the book - when do you expect it will be finished?

[@fretscience]

It will probably be awhile…I’ve been prioritizing new video content recently, and everything is taking much longer than expected 😅🎸🧪🤘

[@dry509]

Hats off to people who get this, Did Engvie do this or just memorize the scales?

[@fretscience]

Feel free to ask questions if there are things in the video you don’t understand. This channel is aimed at intermediate players looking to deepen their understanding of the fretboard. There are definitely better channels out there for aspiring shredders if that’s your thing

[@dry509]

@@fretscience Thanks.

[@zoharkiks]

Miss your content a lot, hope everything's all right and you'll post soon

[@fretscience]

Everything’s all right…lots going on…I’m working on more content, but it’s going slower than I’d like. I may have to resort to live video along with the animations 😅🎸🧪🤘

[@kenlelon369]

if I could have found you 25 years ago I could've saved a lot of time!

[@fretscience]

25 years ago, I hadn’t figured any of this out! 🤣🎸🧪🤘

[@TreyStegall]

Going to have to watch this about 4 more times.

[@fretscience]

Yeah, this is one of my more jam-packed videos 🤣🎸🧪🤘

[@robinalves8314]

So useful ❤

[@fretscience]

Glad it was helpful! 🎸🧪🤘

[@Chip44]

I love your voice! What microphone do you use?

[@fretscience]

Ha, thanks! On this video, I used an Audio Technica AT2020 condenser mic, plus whatever magic Descript’s audio processing adds 😅🎸🧪🤘

[@Chip44]

@@fretscience thank you so much! You seem like a good man

[@zakdhabalia8280]

great lesson but I really struggle to understand the bleacher diagram for practicing. Any chance you could do a short clip of actually showing how to play/practice it on a real guitar?

[@fretscience]

Good idea…I did the best I could with the animation tools I had, but now that I’m starting to figure out live-action video, this might make a good “short”

[@rickc8544]

excellent lesson but where is the cheat sheets you mentioned.

[@fretscience]

Thanks! You can find them here: fretscience.gumroad.com/

[@anlitch]

Очень полезная система, спасибо!

[@btbb3726]

Thank You!

[@PopovSB]

I've been using this concept for years, so I want to put my two cents. The point is that it would be nice to somehow name these structures. This would allow them to be manipulated. As everyone has already realized, there are only three interval variations in diatonic. As everyone has already understood, there are only three types of trichords in diatonic. These are the Major trichord ww=M, the minor trichord wh=m and the Phrygian (or Locrian) hw=m- or h . (M=22, m=21, h=12). Also in harmonic scales there are structures 31=M+ and 13=M-. If you play these structures on one string, you get a sequence of trichords M_m_h_M, M_m_h_M: 1M_2m_3h_4M_5M_6m_7h_1M By the way, there is an immediate analogy with the chords in the steps of the scale: I ii iii IV V vi viiø. But that is a separate topic. Thus the formula of the universal pattern 3nps: [7h, 3h, 6m, 2m, 5M, 1M, 4M,, ] where "," means the quart interval transition to the next string ",," - transition to tritone up (shift). "[ ]" is a scale pattern that repeats in a different position. For example, [7h,3h_4M,,] is a diagonal fingering often used by Joe Satriani.

[@PopovSB]

You can play 3nps scales in a spiral along the fretboard: Lyd [4M,,7h,3h,6m,2m,5M,] move 5M from the first string to the 6th string and continue Mix [5M,1M,4M,,7h,3h,6m,] move to the 6th string and continue Aeo [6m,2m,5M,1M,4M,,7h,3h,] and so on You can also write formulas for the concept of CAGED (I call these boxes Keyframe, since each form of the scale contains all seven chords of the key and all modes). Here "S" is a major second. [5S;7h,3h,6m,2m,5M,] = mix frame [6m,2m,5S;7h,3h,6m,] = aeo frame [7h,3h,6m,2m,5S;7h, ] = loc/ion frame, etc (dor, phr/lyd frames) You can also write any fingering formulas and altered scales. But I already exceeded my message limit, sorry! Thanks to this channel for a great explanation and demonstration!

[@fretscience]

I’m intrigued by the idea, but I’m struggling to follow the notation…do you have a reference for this approach? 🎸🧪🤘

[@PopovSB]

@@fretscience Thank you for your interest. This is my concept, I laid it out on a guitar forum in 2011. But I think you won't understand it, since the forum is in Russian... KZbin deletes posts that contain links... I tried to explain everything in detail in the first post above. But if anything remains unclear, I'll be happy to email you.

[@PopovSB]

@fretscience We can also add that the pentatonic in this system is written as follows: 1) [1M,,,5S, ] is diagonal major pentatonic (or in short [M,,,S,] [b7S,b3M;;] - diagonal minor pentatonic (in short [S,M,,, ] 2) [2S,5S,1S;3t,6t,] - pattern of major pentatonic in 5 boxes 3) [4S,b7S,b3S;5t,1t,] or [t,t, S,S,S; ] - pattern of minor penta in 5 boxes 4) Slightly more complicated pattern of the altered scale (super locrian): [1o',, b5S; b7m, b3h, b6S; ]1o' (o' - reduced tetrachord = hwh) 5) Diminished dominant scale: [b2m, b5h; b7m, b3h; 5m, 1h; 3m, 6h;] or [ m, h; ] 6) Several variations of different types of arpeggio seventh chords: [7s,3t;] = maj7 [b7S,,3t] = X7 [b7S,b3T,,,] = m7 [b7S,b3t,,,] = ø [1t,,b5t,,] = o7

[@shalomshalom735]

GREAT video !!!!!

[@fretscience]

Thanks! 🎸🧪🤘

[@curmudgeonlyfather]

Pure gold

[@delinquense]

All that shines isn't necessarily gold!

[@eokerr]

Outstanding content!😁

[@fretscience]

Thanks! 🎸🧪🤘

[@frankm2588]

When at 1:48 you refer to "fret science members," how to you become a member? I love Jon Finn's book, he influenced a lot of people. I like his shapes of the pentatonics, which a lot of people copied. He kind of lost me in the 2d half of the book, though.

[@fretscience]

The membership reference is obsolete at the moment…if you’re interested in future offerings, the best way to hear about it is through my mailing list at fretscience.com. I used to go see Jon play with his trio back in the 90s, and I actually made the first “Jon Finn Group” webpage way back in the day. I’m definitely an admirer.

[@MichaelPillitiere]

This all looks very familiar.

[@fretscience]

🤣 Yes, there's definitely some shared DNA between our work, and I admire your treatment of the topic! It's not entirely obvious from this video on its own, but I'm trying to take this material further than I've seen elsewhere in terms of the relationships between the diatonic scales and pentatonics/triads, as well as how to use these tools for improvisation, but I haven't yet finished building out the videos for all of that. I think you've done a great job of simplifying things even further than I do in this video, but where I'm heading requires some of that extra complexity.

[@wilfredferwerda780]

There are a several people on the interwebs, or elsewhere, who have co-discovered this universal system for stringed instruments tuned in fourths. @MichaelPelletier and @fretscience are two of the best at explaining it on KZbin. It would be great to get together and standardize it in some way so that everyone can benefit. Most important for bass players would be practical methods to incorporate the universal pattern for outlining chord sequences, playing grooves and improvising solos.

[@YEM_]

This is great stuff. Are you familiar with Claus Levin's Fretboard Freedom? Similar approach. Combining his ideas with your ideas is powerful!

[@fretscience]

I’m not familiar with his approach, but I’ve found that the more mental models you can apply in any context, the more creative you can be, so I’m all for learning this stuff backwards and forwards and upside down…just with minimal rote memorization 🎸🧪🤘

[@glynnkorrel693]

YEM don’t you mean Jonathan Boyd’s Fretboard Freedom?

[@YEM_]

@@glynnkorrel693 no

[@jwardcomo]

Thanks!

[@fretscience]

You bet! 🎸🧪🤘

[@danbromberg]

Excellent video! Do your cheat sheets really summarize all the information contained in it? Also, am I supposed to be thinking of these patterns logically (how is there time for it?!?) while playing or is it my muscle memory from hours of practicing that will guide me through it?

[@fretscience]

Great questions, Dan! The cheat sheets contain diagrams for all the major concepts, with enough connective text that if you’ve watched the video, it should be everything you need to refresh your memory and be able to practice. I’ve been selling them for months without anyone asking for their money back yet. The feedback has all been positive. As for how much of this you will need to think about when you play…think of the system described here as scaffolding for constructing pathways in your brain. You’ll need it a lot at first, and it’ll be a little slow to move around, but over time, your mental construction will take shape and the scaffolding can fall away because you won’t need it anymore. I intend to do a whole video on this idea from Daniel Kahneman’s “Thinking, Fast and Slow”.

[@rockitflash]

That’s a lot on info, but it’s not beyond my understanding. I’ll probably watch it everyday and grab what I can absorb. I like to take blank fretboard diagrams on paper and physically write the dots of the pattern myself. Somehow this pen to paper method helps it stick in my head.

[@fretscience]

Yeah, my videos tend to be a little bit overstuffed with information, but I do try to make it all useful and helpful 🤣🎸🧪🤘

[@athelasayb]

Thanks!

[@fretscience]

Much appreciated! 🎸🧪🤘

[@rafalvarezsevilla]

you are a genius!

[@fretscience]

🤪🎸🧪🤘

[@akathecops]

THANK YOU!!!

[@michaelvaldez5453]

Ohhh New Content 🤗👏🏽🤝🤘🏽🙏🏽

[@fretscience]

Thanks, Michael! 🎸🧪🤘

[@tp5401]

My mind melted. So much i dont know

[@fretscience]

If you want to take a step back, this video describes the big picture of how everything fits together on the fretboard: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqGmYmRrr89-n9ksi=_c5FXui0aCZ85R3y

[@tp5401]

​@@fretscience yup! Watched it. Awesome! I watched this one about 4 times through and it all makes sense, fits together and is going to be of immense help! Thanks for this awesome content!!!

[@fretscience]

@@tp5401 Glad to hear it's clicking! 🎸🧪🤘

[@JrFondeur]

@fretscience, when you say that PDFs are free for members what do you mean, how do I become a member?

[@fretscience]

There’s a bit of a long story behind this, but I’m not currently offering memberships. (I had to switch backend providers for PDF sales, and it got complicated.) Sorry for the confusion! 🎸🧪🤘

[@JrFondeur]

@@fretscience thank you for your reply. One question Though is this your last entry on this topic? I say it because I see a bundle but if you are going to add on top of this I rather wait.

[@fretscience]

There is definitely more coming…with no end in sight. As more gets added, the complete bundle price will go up, and I will likely offer other sub-bundles. Through the end of May, you can use the discount code WELCOME20 to get 20% off anything on the Gumroad site, including the bundle. 😉🎸🧪🤘

[@JrFondeur]

@@fretscience understood , thank you.

[@StarDarkAshes]

A great video to make would be highlighting where all the 3rds appear in the rectangle and square. Personally, I already know where they are but it’s just different to see them highlighted on a nicely put together diagram. So you could show the rectangle with the thirds in green instead of red or something like that and then you could show where the thirds are within the stack as well. I’m sure you’ve already thought of that and probably might even be putting it together. Just saying. I love these videos, though. Shortcuts are the best!

[@fretscience]

I cover that in my CAGED/Triads video and those diagrams are part of the PDF cheat sheet for that one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWW9lpSBpN6hrJYm20s And the thirds are indeed green! 🤣🎸🧪🤘

[@StarDarkAshes]

@@fretscience ㅇㅐ 😂 I have seen all your videos too. I guess maybe I am thinking of more of a deep dive I guess. I will have to watch it again. I obviously forgot 🙃. It was probably more of a supplementary addition. Probably can be done as more of a deep dive. I always seem to get more when there’s a focus on one thing. I can go back and watch it again. I may have watched it without really giving it my undivided attention being tired 🥱 or something. Thanks. Can’t wait for the next video!!!!

[@fretscience]

The video I’m currently working on is all about visualizing intervals on the fretboard, and it may not end up being exactly the deep dive you describe, but I’m definitely thinking about how this ties in. Thanks!

[@JR-pr8jb]

Oh man, my head is breaking. But I'll get it, maybe starting with your video on the pentatonics.

[@fretscience]

That one is definitely more fundamental, and I’d follow it with the “hidden in plain sight” video. This playlist is my recommended viewing order: kzbin.info/aero/PLMuHlX9RiFi1L1RdC0CzYa1qxZllD5Ujz&si=UCSCITIpPijoW8pn

[@FiredSix]

When imagining the pattern, why do I have to think of it in minor scale degrees can I not just picture it as the six instead of the one and still have it as my tonic?

[@fretscience]

I’m not sure I understand what you’re referring to. Can you expand on your question?

[@mikecanthal]

I love this

[@fretscience]

Thanks, Mike! 🎸🧪🤘

[@Hightowerman1]

Por fin las ideas se ven y se entienden de manera clara y fácil. Firmado: Yngwie Malmsteen

[@fretscience]

Thanks, I think 🤔 🎸🧪🤘

[@FiredSix]

What is this SORCERY! I play the piano mainly but picked up the guitar here and there the past few years. I've done all the courses out there (Well a lot). Every single course gives tons of patterns to "Memorize" saying there is no shortcut but it is well worth it, and they are really good teachers. I don't get how this is not the standard way of teaching this, just after watching the video in one night it feels like I can play all over the fretboard, and I actually did.

[@fretscience]

It’s great to hear! If you’re interested in taking it further, there are some other shortcuts that help with making the modes sound more musical and seeing the connections between these scales and the underlying pentatonic scales. This video is the overview: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqGmYmRrr89-n9ksi=OAnlrUNK5LwuL0g1 Cheers! 🎸🧪🤘

[@tazador793]

hello, do you have a book or publication for sale on this

[@fretscience]

Currently just the PDF "cheat sheets" mentioned in the video (and linked in the video description). I haven't yet figured out how to make the animated content come across in a book.

[@cenntraru]

​@@fretscience so true! why would we even want to degrade into the book format for such sophisticated material. Cheat sheets are of great support tho, thank you!

[@valtyger]

Could you have a lesson that stops me from hitting WRONG notes on particular mode or scale? A Red or Death Zone. I remember how I quitted smoking permanently, from a very severe cold.

[@fretscience]

Hmmm, instead of that, I recommend reframing: there are no wrong notes, and the master skill is to make any note sound right by resolving it artfully. That would be a great video 🤔

[@fretscience]

In all seriousness, the best way to avoid bad notes is to slow down while you’re really getting the scale shapes under your fingers. If you play too fast, you’ll hit “bad” notes and you’ll never develop the muscle memory to stay inside the scale.

[@valtyger]

@@fretscience I just watched BobbyHarrisonGuitar video. He paint the notes with 3 colors. (You do too but mostly in BW, except the key note in Red). I can memorize Bobby's notes quite well. For me, the empty frets are the "No-No" zone or shape under playing mode/scale. If I know the location of "Landmines", I can avoid. PS: I understand that each of outside note can be used for a special sound effect Thank you, Sir.

[@henrikjepsen5189]

I cant find the free cheat sheet???

[@fretscience]

Sorry for the misunderstanding. The cheat sheets are not free…they are available for sale via the link in the video description. The “free” mentioned was for paying members, but that option is no longer available due to a change in platforms. All of the *content* is free in the videos…the cheat sheets are a convenient way to refresh your memory, and their sales pay for the development of new videos.

[@OlivvYeah]

The graphics and explanations are impressive! but: don't be too optimistic about the patterns making you suddenly playing like a wizard. Most of the people learning this will just learn the visual patterns, shred around hoping for the best without any clue of the relationship of the played notes to the harmonic situation they are playing over, thus with random results. The pattern is not seven different groups of three notes looping over and over. The pattern is 1-2-34-5-6-71 > the major scale! First thing to know: Between all degrees of the major scale there is a whole step, except between 3 and 4, 7 and 1 (which are connected by halfstep). Second thing: Know how to play A) whole step and half step on the same string (it's always the same fingering!) B) whole step and half step between two adjacent strings (it's always the same fingering, except between strings 3 and 2) Third thing: Build any major scale starting with whatever finger you want saying out loud the number of the scale degree you are playing: this will allow to know if the following note will be a half step or a whole step above. When you run ouf of fingers, just change to the adjacent string! Plus: at ANY MOMENT, you can just slide right or left on the same string by using the same approach, allowing to be free from the box thinking. Why build boxes in order to break out of them? Trust me, it will yield a better result on the long run! To develop the approach further into playing music using numbers as a starting point, I highly recommend checking out #improviseforreal (I've no financial connection with them..) Happy music!

[@fretscience]

I mean no offense, but did you watch the video? Everything you mention is covered by this video or the videos it links to.

[@michaelthrasher5900]

Wow, I’ve been struggling for 48 years, I hope my 63 year old brain can keep this in my head

[@fretscience]

A lot of this clicked for me around age 50, so I’d say you’ve got a good shot! 🤣🎸🧪🤘

[@patsmith378]

I am confused 3, is a 124 pattern ?

[@fretscience]

Yes, in that framing, patterns 3 and 7 are 124. Patterns 2 and 6 are 134. Patterns 1, 4, and 5 are 135, but pattern 4 has an extra empty fret after it.

[@patsmith378]

What makes it a 124 pattern ? Sorry

[@patsmith378]

Never mind , I got it it’s the fingering

[@fretscience]

Sorry that wasn’t more clear!

[@patsmith378]

@@fretsciencedude this is great info. Making flash cards right now !! Thank you.

[@markkindermannart4028]

I'm going to have this pinned for at least a year lol

[@GsusBC]

and if you tune, like I have, your guitar all in fourths, then it is even easier, no wrap at all!

[@fretscience]

That does make things easier, except when covering someone else’s parts. I never felt the trade off was worth it, but I can definitely see the advantages! 🎸🧪🤘

[@wilfredferwerda780]

or if you’re a bass player, you’re already playing in all fourths, no wrap!

[@josemiguelapellidoobligato6292]

Bien

[@fretscience]

Merci! 🎸🧪🤘

[@tlsho0351]

Huh?

[@fretscience]

You might want to start at the beginning…this playlist has everything you need to conquer the fretboard: kzbin.info/aero/PLMuHlX9RiFi1L1RdC0CzYa1qxZllD5Ujz If there’s something specific you’re finding confusing, ask your questions in the comments or shoot me an email

[@GsusBC]

ole, ole y ole

[@Joedex1625]

If you just altr this a tiny bit and call each two string pattern (6notes) a separate shape then it's simpler imo

[@fretscience]

I talk about that a little bit in the video. The main problem with looking at it *only* that way is that two of the shapes look identical. But I definitely use that mental model all the time.

[@anthonybochichio4548]

I must be really stupid..because all i get is more confused!!!..i dont play a 7 string guitar!! Mine has only 6?? Confused!!!!

[@fretscience]

I recommend starting with this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5WboayAbqZojZosi=8pSzWopNKHwnnFB4 You might benefit from reading about the recommended viewing order at fretscience.com Or, if seeing it all in writing helps, here’s my original blog post: fretscience.com/2022/10/09/3nps-one-pattern-to-rule-them-all/ I hope that helps!

[@vaiishnavighate]

...just wow

[@fretscience]

It’s a lot, I know 😅🎸🧪🤘

[@sunnibird]

So just have to remember a universal 7 sting pattern, 2 phone numbers (ordering shapes), a pentagram, -3, shift 1 fret when crossing the warp, 4 regular shifts, 7 2-string patters, 3 fingering shapes................ -_-

[@fretscience]

It’s a *lot* less memorization than learning all the 6-string patterns individually, especially if you get into modes, and it yields musical intuition faster, especially when combined with some of the methods from my other videos. Plus, you can easily apply it to 7 and 8 string guitars (or 5 and 6 string basses).

[@swel7586]

Great instruction, but confusing. I wish it was broken down into parts.

[@fretscience]

If I may ask, what was confusing?

[@hockeywhippet404]

I found the Building a Better Guitar Scale to be a bit easier to remember because of the XYZ patterns, but it's basically the same concept. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qILJZ5xugK6qgLc

[@fretscience]

That’s a good video, but it only covers about 25% of what I’ve tried to cover here. The XYZ shapes make the overall pattern simpler, but they completely obscure the scale degrees, which is very limiting. This is a rare case where I’d argue that a little bit *more* memorization is worthwhile.

[@hockeywhippet404]

@@fretscience I think starting with the BBGS and then incorporating the scale degrees was what worked the best for me. I actually did the scale degree thing on my own pretty soon after learning BBGS, and before your video was made. Your method is great and I don't deny it's very useful, beyond BBGS. I just found it was very quick to be able to think of the XYZ patterns in order to navigate horizontally and vertically in order to familiarize where I am on the fretboard for a specific key/mode. Both methods have improved my ability as a guitar player more in a matter of days, then I had over a period of years when I first started the journey, before KZbin existed. Thanks for all you do to inspire!

[@slawaschwed]

Mmm.. you lost me at 03:54 😵

[@fretscience]

The “infinite fretboard” piece? You can safely ignore that and keep going. Feel free to ask questions about anything that’s unclear

[@tcjensen1]

I think I’ll just tune up B and E to C and F and make life easier lol

[@fretscience]

It worked for Stanley Jordan! 🎸🧪🤘

[@tcjensen1]

@@fretscience 👍🏼 I recently learned all the patterns without any big repositioning, which means there’s many times where a certain string, typically the G or the B, gets only 2 notes instead of 3. So the Ionian pattern starting on G from the low E would be 3 notes per string except yield only the E and F# notes on the B string string, then place the index finger on the 3rd fret high E string for the G. So the whole pattern runs from a low G index finger to a high B pinky finger. But there is no real hand position change. In your opinion, What are the disadvantages of this being one’s default way of playing through scales vs 3 notes per string with hand repositions? Thx! Incredible videos. The formatting must be insane work.

[@fretscience]

I have several videos that present methods that yield the “in position” patterns that you’re talking about. 3nps is useful for picking efficiency on melodic patterns, and for moving horizontally on the neck. I prefer the in-position patterns for improvisation, especially when you learn to see the pentatonic scales inside the modes. You might be interested in checking out this overview video for more: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqGmYmRrr89-n9ksi=uHinrbJ9WmJQTnRM

[@fretscience]

Oh yeah, I try not to think too hard about how much time the animations take to make 😅

[@tcjensen1]

@@fretscienceI do love the circle of 5ths and ease of finding intervals with the 3 nps. I can see the speed benefits too. I recently discovered the easy magic of 2 nps arpeggios too.

[@drunio1504]

While I'm sure this is valuable.for this retread mature beginner it's TMI, too much information. Like trying to memorize the Periodic Table > which element fits and reacts with a corresponding atomic structure.

[@fretscience]

It’s a lot less memorizing than the alternatives, but it is a little complex to explain. Once it clicks, you never need another scale diagram - you can just build them on the fly. Worth the initial effort, imo.

[@mjjames2442]

Uh oh

[@fretscience]

🤔

[@anthonybochichio4548]

HELP!!!

[@fretscience]

I recommend starting with this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5WboayAbqZojZosi=8pSzWopNKHwnnFB4 You might benefit from reading about the recommended viewing order at fretscience.com Or, if seeing it all in writing helps, here’s my original blog post: fretscience.com/2022/10/09/3nps-one-pattern-to-rule-them-all/ I hope that helps!

[@maninthebox01]

Lost

[@fretscience]

This video builds on material from a few others. There’s a recommended viewing order (and some discussion of the big picture) at fretscience.com If you have specific questions, feel free to ask them here or by email.

[@maninthebox01]

@@fretscience exactly what I needed. Thanks. I will be checking out the other videos.

[@fretscience]

I also recommend signing up for the mailing list…I’ll be sending out a free booklet that explicitly discusses the big picture to go along with my next video 🎸🧪🤘

[@maninthebox01]

@@fretscience where do I go to sign up for the mailing list

[@fretscience]

@maninthebox01 it’s at the bottom of the homepage on fretscience.com

[@JustinHollandFitness]

Very confusing if your blind and not able to see what you're describing

[@fretscience]

That is fair. This method is highly visual and relies on animations to demonstrate concepts, so it is not very accessible to those with severe vision impairments. I include accommodations for color-blind and hearing-impaired viewers, but I don’t yet know how to make it accessible to blind viewers.

[@JustinHollandFitness]

@@fretscience thanks for the reply, and I completely understand. probably not a whole lot of us that watch, I always figure it never hurts mentioning it just in case it's something that you might not have thought about when creating your content.

[@SS-fs5tw]

definitely not for beginners. good effort though.

[@fretscience]

Depends on your definition of beginner…I’ve successfully taught the approaches in all of my videos to players with less than six months of experience. All of these mental models are useful to learn early and then revisit later. They provide a great scaffolding to build your own understanding of the guitar, and each topic rewards repeat visits over time. You get different things out of it as a beginner than you do as an intermediate player, but it’s still valuable. I do agree that my presentation of the material here is aimed at intermediate players, but taken as a whole, my videos are accessible to a motivated beginner.

[@SS-fs5tw]

@@fretscience may be its my IQ. i'd like to learn all this but the moving shapes got me confused. i'l like to learn notes first. maybe ill start there.

[@fretscience]

@SS-fs5tw I’m sure it’s not your IQ! But if you’re a beginner, you’d probably benefit a lot from talking through these concepts with a teacher or coach. You can progress a lot more quickly if you understand the “big picture” compared to just figuring it out on your own. That said, it can be really hard to find a good teacher

[@SS-fs5tw]

@@fretscience guitar teachers in india perform for the students more than teaching them. i gave up guitar twice just for this reason.

[@fretscience]

@SS-fs5tw that’s common in the USA as well. That or they just want to talk. 🥲