Learning fret positions

Jason Bergeron · Post by **Jason Bergeron** » 25 Jul 2016 3:23 pm

Can anyone give me some tips on learning fret positions? I'm learning how to play Cajun music, so my positions mostly go from 2-4, 5-7 and sometimes 9. When I started out about a year ago, the guy that got me started had me mark the frets, so I'd like to start getting off that crutch. I know just like everything else, this will take practice, but I was curious if anyone had any tips. I do realize they have designs along the board, but right now, that's not helping me much LOL!

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Pat Chong · Post by **Pat Chong** » 25 Jul 2016 6:38 pm

It may help if you learn what chord is at what fret, instead of what number.

No pedals.....Fret 3 is "G", 5="A", 8="C", 10="D".
A+B pedals...Fret 3 is "C", 5="D", 8="F", 10="G".
A+F lever.....Fret 3 is "E", 5="F#", 8="A", 10="B", etc.

Also, using the designs will help. Notice what design is on fret 3, compare it with the design in fret 15 (one octave higher). See the similarities/difference? Fret 5 vs 17, 7 vs 19, etc. Keeping note of design helps you know/understand where you are, too.
And you are right, it will take practice..........

Enjoy your steel............Pat

Bobby D. Jones · Post by **Bobby D. Jones** » 25 Jul 2016 7:40 pm

My suggestion would be get yourself a Mel Bay steel guitar chord chart. Take a song, Pick a key, say G then find the rest of the chords you will need to make the key, G,C,D, and E Minor for a start. On a 3 pedal ABC and 2 knee lever DF steel guitar, there is about 3 different ways to get each chord in 12 frets on the neck. Once you get the chords of G worked out on the neck, Play these till you get the moves needed to memory. Then by moving all the chord down say 2 frets you would have A key,chords A,D,E and F flat minor. Good Luck and Happy Steelin.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 25 Jul 2016 7:57 pm

Patricia Warnock has a comprehensive chord chart here: http://www.cryinsteel.com/

John Gould · Post by **John Gould** » 25 Jul 2016 8:12 pm

Okay lets say the key if G
G is the 3rd fret no pedals
c Which is the 4 is on the same fret A/B pedals down
A which is the 2 is 2 frets up at fret 5 no pedals
D which is the 5 is at fret 5 A/B pedals down

So the formula is
1 and 4 same fret
2 and 5 same fret
3 and 6 same fret
keep in mind i'm talking all majors
Also 7 and 3 are together 1 fret back from the one
or in the case fret 2 .
3 minor and 6 minor on the same fret as the one, either using knee lever or pedal

I hope this helps and makes sense

Peter Nylund · Post by **Peter Nylund** » 26 Jul 2016 2:03 am

My suggestion would be not to limit yourself to the no pedal, A+B pedal and A+F kind of thinking. The fretboard contains so much more than that to spice up the playing.

Jason Bergeron · Post by **Jason Bergeron** » 26 Jul 2016 5:48 am

Thank y'all for the input! Right now, I only play a G tuning on my back neck, I know nothing on the E9th. Do these tips still apply since it's not the same tuning?

Allan Haley · Post by **Allan Haley** » 26 Jul 2016 9:05 am

Peter, could you elaborate a bit. As a beginner. I find the No pedals, AB and AF are my anchors. I;m trying to break into more melodic playing across the fretboard.

Pat Chong · Post by **Pat Chong** » 26 Jul 2016 4:47 pm

Identifying "chord and position instead of number" and noting design position would still apply.

Enjoy your (non-E9) steel...........Pat

Bobby Snell · Post by **Bobby Snell** » 26 Jul 2016 7:03 pm

Jason, you might do a search here on the forum for posts about Cajun steel...I know there are members that are very knowledgeable with the G tuning.

Jason Bergeron · Post by **Jason Bergeron** » 27 Jul 2016 12:16 pm

Bobby Snell wrote:Jason, you might do a search here on the forum for posts about Cajun steel...I know there are members that are very knowledgeable with the G tuning.

Thanks for the tip! I was hoping some of the ones I know would chime in. I guess I'll make another thread and see how it goes!

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 27 Jul 2016 12:20 pm

Maybe contact Murnel Babineaux,,,,He plays a lot of cajun using a capo (round bar under the strings at 3rd fret). When he plays cajun,,,you KNOW it's cajun!!!!

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