Mnemonics for learning the fretboard

[Moloko126]

I’m trying to learn the notes on the fretbord and just came up with a number of mnemonics with parts of what Justin uses in his lessons.
(I use the 10th fret insted of the 9th becasue it doesn’t have as many flats and sharps.)

3 Gray Cats Frown At Sharp Ducks Gracefully
Fret 3 (String: 6=G, 5=C, 4=F, 3=A♯, 2=D, 1=G)

5 Able Digits Gather Coconuts Every Afternoon
Fret 5 (String: 6=A, 5=D, 4=G, 3=C, 2=E, 1=A)

7 Beautiful Elephants Always Dance Gracefully flat Bouncing
Fret 7 (String: 6=B, 5=E, 4=A, 3=D, 2=G♭, 1=B)

10 Dark Guitar Cases For All Dust
Fret 10 (String: 6=D, 5=G, 4=C, 3=F, 2=A, 1=D)

They are kind of silly, but I hope they will help me remember them…

How did you do to learn the fretboard?

[Coda]

Hi,
That’s funny but may be useful for some learners. Just a small correction (which, I hope, you don’t mind): on the 7th fret 2nd and 1st string: after G flat (or F sharp) comes B (will always be the same as on the E6 string, just two octaves higher).

[Moloko126]

Oh! Thanks for noticing!

I’ve edited the post with a replacement word for the thin E string.

[sclay]

@Moloko126

How did you do to learn the fretboard?

This is how I’ve, pretty much, learnt the fretboard.

1. E and A strings by rote, then
2. Octave shapes, then
   3.Triads

Cheers, Shane

[bkennedy74]

I have only done fret 5 -

At Dawn Gross Cats Eat Ferrets

[Boris1565]

The note on high E (fret 5 string 1) is A, not F.

[bkennedy74]

oh of course.

At Dawn Gross Cats Eat Aligators!!!

[DaveTC59]

One mnemonic to rule them all!

Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle (FCGDAEB) - circle of 5ths
Reverse it and:
Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles Father (BEADGCF) - circle of 4ths
Apply it to fretboard (it’s tuned in 4ths apart from string 2) and strings 1 and 6 are the same notes, different octave.

At the nut we have:
E A D G (B) E
or
End And Down Goes (Battle) Ends

Two rules to remember.

1. Whenever you get to an F the next letter is moved up one fret.
2. Whenever you cross from string 3 to string 2 the next letter is moved up one fret.

Consider fret 5 (an A note) so:
And Down Goes Charles ADGC(EA)
(rule 2 string 4 to 3 move up a fret to fret 6) for Father (F) (rule 1 an F , so move up a fret for next letter, to fret 7) Battle (B).

Yep, it just keeps repeating all the way up the fretboard.

Here’s a partially completed fretboard to give a better idea.

Hope this helps you as much as it has helped me.

[beejay56]

Dave

I don’t understand how this works. On fret 1 for example: Father And Down Goes Charles Father; how do you know, on any of the frets what ‘shape’ the mnemonic is going to take? I am missing something.

Any other guidance will be gratefully received. Thanks.

Brian

[Gregba]

Your going down the neck, you need to up, so from fret 1 would be FBEADG

[beejay56]

Greg

Thanks for the reply.

So is the F on string 1, fret 1: the B on string 5, fret 2; the E on string 4, fret 2; the A on string 3, fret 2; the D on string 2, fret 3; and the G on string 1, fret 3? And why is there no C? I cannot grasp the pattern(s) I’m meant to see.

I may be beyond help for misunderstanding something that’s meant to be easy. Any more help much appreciated.

Brian

[Weath72]

Maybe easier to visualise starting from fret 7 with ‘B E A D’ ? (Battle Ends And Down)
The pattern can then be seen ‘shifting’ up a fret when it hits the B string, continuing with the G and a C (Goes Charles)

[Gregba]

Yes correct, why no C, well there’s 7 notes inthe acronym but you only have 6 strings. Keep at it youll get there.

[DaveTC59]

Hi Brian
It’s handy to know the notes on the top string. Strings 6 and 1 are the same notes.
String 6 fret 3 is a G so start mnemonic from G (Goes Charles Father or GCF. Remember the rules - F so next letter is 1 fret up the neck on the next string.
as Father is the last word in the mnemonic we simply start again. So next word/note is “Battle” for B on fret 4 string 4.
Again, moving from string 4 to string 3 we need to apply the rule and move up one fret. Next word is Ends for an E on fret 5 string 2 and then And for A on fret 5 string 1 (and same as string 6)
So continue on fret 5 strings 6,5 and 4, we have And Down Goes ADG now we cross string 4 to string 3 so up one fret for “Charles” C.

The mnemonic just keeps repeating from the last word and string one repeats on string 6. The incidental notes (the sharps/flats simply fill the gaps between notes.

In use, I know fret 3 string 6 is a G and therefore I have GCF. I also know string 1 will also be G so I know where DG are.

So find any note, say a B and I know the following notes will be E A and (up 1 fret) D. Or an F and I know it will be F up 1fret, B, E, A and up 1, D, G

[DaveTC59]

@beejay56

And why is there no C? I cannot grasp the pattern(s) I’m meant to see.

To use your example: I usually start on string 6 for simplifying.

F on fret 1 string 6. F is the last note in the mnemonic so move up a fret and continue. This gives a B on fret 2 string 2, E on string 3 and A on string 4 . Next is a D BUT we are crossing from string 4 to 5, so up a fret to fret 3 string 5 for our D and string 6 for our G.
Finishing fret 1 String 1 is same as string 6, an F . In the mnemonic F is preceded by C, so fret 1 string 5 is a C. (There’s your missing C). Strings 2 3 and 4 are incidental notes (sharps) not covered by mnemonic but easy to work out once you find the notes.
Cheers
Dave

[beejay56]

Thank you all - Dave @DaveTC59, Greg @Gregba, Pete @Weath72 - I think I may understand this better. I’m going to sit at my fret board and practice following the pattern(s).

Really grateful for all the feedback.

Brian

[DaveTC59]

Hi Brian
Don’t worry too much about learning the patterns. Just focus on the mnemonic and the rules.
Once you know the notes on string 6 just pick a note. That note is the beginning point for the mnemonic.
The beginning point shifts with each note.
The top 2 strings (1 and 2) are easy as string 1 is starting point, string 2 the preceding letter/note on the mnemonic.
Remembering the mnemonic letters will lead to you remembering the notes on the strings. More important than learning patterns.
Cheers