PRESENCE - Volume 22
Inspiration For Guitarists
If you’ve got a solid understanding of the 3 Essential Skills, you’re ready to start taking your guitar playing to the next level. But what comes after you’ve got those basics down? Here’s what I recommend focusing on next...
The 3 Fretboard Fluency Skills
Once you’ve got your basics solid, the next step is what I call "Fretboard Fluency." These 3 skills will give you a complete understanding of the guitar neck, and you’ll be able to move between positions and shapes with ease.
Here’s the order I suggest working through them:
The 5 Shapes of the Pentatonic Scale
These shapes aren't just for soloing—they’re the key to playing all over the fretboard. Mastering them (and how they overlap with the CAGED shapes) will give you the freedom to move seamlessly between positions and never feel stuck again.The 5 Shapes of the Major Scale
Just like the Pentatonic Scale, learning the Major Scale in 5 shapes gives you a complete grid of the fretboard. Start with the 2 "Landmark" shapes (those that overlap with the Pentatonic shapes), then move on to the other 3. This will give you a full map of the neck, which also covers all modes.The Modes
Now that you’ve got the Major Scale down, it's time to dive into Modes. Understanding the modes is about seeing the Major Scale in a different way—each mode is just a shift in tonal center. Trust me, without the first two skills in place, the Modes will be hard to understand. They’re a whole new perspective on the same material.
But should you focus on these skills now?
While these Fretboard Fluency skills unlock the next level, it’s important to note that many top-level pros don’t even bother with them. How much time you dedicate to these will depend on your musical goals.
Want to play like Clapton, Hendrix, or Gilmour? Stick to the 3 Essential Skills and make them as musical as possible.
Want to play like Garcia, Vai, Allman, Scofield, or Mayer? You’ll need to dive into these Fretboard Fluency skills to really understand their playing.
Here’s the bottom line:
The 3 Essential Skills form the foundation for everything. You definitely want to have those down before moving on to these more advanced skills. I wasted a lot of time working on these Fretboard Fluency skills before I was ready, and I don’t want you to make the same mistake.
You don’t have to master the 3 Essential Skills before moving on, but you should feel comfortable with them as you’ll need that foundation to pull from.
Want to dive in right now?
I’ve got a brand new “Fretboard Fluency” e-book package available that covers all of this in detail. If you’re ready to unlock these next-level skills, this is your go-to resource.
I’ll also be creating more content around these skills soon, but in the meantime, feel free to grab the e-book and start working on these concepts today.
Lastly, I always welcome your feedback! Hit reply and let me know what topics you want to see covered in my upcoming videos and newsletters.
Thanks,
Dustin