Fret Science
Understand more. Memorize less.
Unlock the secrets of the guitar fretboard
without a lot of memorization or repetitive practice
Fret Science is just starting to tune up. For an overview of what we’re building, see: About Fret Science.
If you’re just joining us, welcome! Consider starting with the geometry of standard tuning, 3nps: one pattern to rule them all, hiding in plain sight, the “rectangle” and the “stack”, and MmmMMmm: easy delicious harmonies with 3rds and 6ths.
If you’re returning, welcome back! Our most recent posts are linked below.
Recent blog posts
3nps: an essential tool for all guitarists
The three-notes-per-string system is by far one of the best ways to navigate the fretboard both vertically and horizontally. It’s easy to learn, and with this method, there’s 85% less memorization.
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The modes explained clearly
What are the major scale modes? How do they relate to the pentatonic scale? What on earth is “brightness ordering”? All this and more are explained herein!
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The modes are hidden in plain sight — expanded
If you already know the pentatonic scale anywhere on the fretboard, you can instantly access the major scale modes by understanding how the modes relate to the pentatonic scale and to each other. This is a significantly expanded and improved version of an approach described in a previous video.
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The CAGED System (and Triads) Simplified
This ~16 minute video deconstructs the CAGED system using easy-to-understand animated building blocks (over 150 animations!), starting with triads, adding on pentatonic scales, and finishing with the major scale modes. This is everything you need to unlock the fretboard and get started improvising.
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The rectangle and the stack: the video
The thumbnail is a teeny bit hyperbolic, but it’s not clickbait! The rectangle and the stack are the easiest way to make the most of the pentatonic scale.
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Master the modes tonight
Learn the simple five-string pattern that completely unlocks the modes across the entire fretboard.
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Learn the best way to visualize chords and scales and move them across the fretboard
How does the quirky tuning of the G and B strings affect scales and chords? Learn to traverse “the warp” and use the circle of fifths to navigate the fretboard with 80% less memorization. See how it applies to triads, the pentatonic scale, and soloing in the blues.
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Learn the modes in minutes!
Our first YouTube video! If you already know the pentatonic scale anywhere on the fretboard, you can instantly access the modes by understanding how the modes relate to the pentatonic scale and to each other.
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Cognitive science for guitar nerds, part 1: the magical number 7 +/- 2
Guitarists can learn some valuable lessons from the field of cognitive science. Understanding of the limitations of working memory in the human brain is one of them.
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More yummy harmonies: spread thirds
Make beautiful fingerpicked harmonies just like The Beatles did.
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The Fret Science book is in development, along with supporting instructional videos. Sign up for our mailing list below to receive new lessons as they become available and to be the first to know about upcoming product releases.
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