Another Exercise

A good exercise is to identify all of the notes with the same letter name, ie all Es or all Fs. Study a new letter name at each sitting and test yourself over a few days, ie play high G, low G, middle G, G on the A string 10th fret, etc. You can also get someone to quiz you on them.

Fingerboard General Knowledge

The bass strings are tuned in intervals of a perfect fourth. This results in the same notes being repeated in various positions on the bass neck. For example, if you play an A on the G string, 2nd fret, you will find the same note on the D string, up on the 7th fret (five frets higher). You can find the same A on the A string 12th fret, or the E string 17th fret. You generally choose the position to play the note which is most convenient.

B and C are found next to one another on the fingerboard. This is because there is no accidental (sharp or flat note) in between them. E and F are also placed next to one another, for the same reason.

Each fret on the fingerboard is separated by the interval of a semitone. The name of each fret is in keeping with the Western Music system of tones and semitones.

The inlays or dot markings on the edge of the fingerboard are fret guides. They are placed in standard positions on all basses and guitars - at the 3rd,5th,7th,9th,12th,15th,17th,19th and 21st fret spaces.

The 12th fret space is one octave higher than the open string. For example, at the 12th fret of the G string, you get a G, one octave higher. On most basses and guitars, the 12th fret is given two inlays or dots, to distinguish it from all of the other frets.

From the 12th fret upwards the fingerboard is repeated, but at an octave higher. All of the dot markings occur on exactly the same notes. For example, the C on the A string 15th fret, has a dot marking equivalent to the one on the C, A string 3rd fret. This makes it very easy to learn and recognise the notes above the 12th fret, once you have learned them lower on the fingerboard.