Published on : 18 June 20203 min reading time

Whether you are a beginner or a professional guitarist, learning to play the guitar always starts with understanding the neck. And before performing in front of an audience, it is better to master the basic techniques of this instrument so loved by music lovers.

Knowing how to differentiate between the different types of guitar necks

The guitar, this musical instrument is among the most used in the world. It is then obvious that it has its own little secret. Taming a guitar neck is not a quick and easy task. But it is essential to understand what constitutes it. First of all, the guitar neck varies according to its shape, size and material. It is made of many different woods, some of them are made of maple, which gives a slamming sound, as the experienced would say. Others are made of rosewood, which produces a warm, round sound. This rosewood neck is often found on acoustic and classical guitars. Finally, the ebony neck offers a warm sound and excellent sustain. This type of neck allows you to feel a very good touch when you pick it up. In fact, high-end guitars all have them. Regarding its size, there are different number of frets. The longest ones have 24, 22, 20, sometimes less. Never leave the neck curved or perfectly straight. It must be adjusted slightly hollow to find the right balance.

Knowing the basic principles helps to master it

A guitar neck usually consists of a fingerboard, squares and frets. The space between the two frets is called the fret. The guitar strings then rest on the neck and frets. Here are a few basic principles that can help in taming it. Only one fret separates the B from the C and the E from the F. Two squares separate the remnants of the notes D, G and A. It is imperative to memorize in the head the notes of the open strings such as high E, B, G, D, A, low E. Also, the notes of the open strings all come back to the twelfth fret. Any note on the next string can be played 5 fret higher and higher on the neck, except for strings 2 and 3, B and G, where there is only a 4 fret gap. The notes of the 5th fret are the same as the notes of the open string that follows it, hence the exception of the 3rd string.

Taking your time to familiarize yourself with the guitar neck

Remembering note names seems difficult at first, but regular little exercises help a lot to tame it. The fingers will naturally move to the guitar neck as you practice. It’s perfectly normal for this to go on for weeks or months, given the difficulty of memorizing notes. Training for 6 minutes a day will help you progress over the weeks. You can do it without the guitar, anywhere, whenever you have free time: in traffic jams, in a queue or during break times. Another way to practice is to play with someone, preferably a friend who is a musician. As an example, one works on a note and the other tries to guess what that note is. The hour passes faster between friends than playing alone. It’s a better way to learn while having fun. The difficulty will be overcome by two. Video games will be put aside and the guitar will be an ideal music partner.