Learning notes on fretboard

[Eberman]

Hi
I want to know your opinion on this matter.
Ive been playing guitar för about 2.5 year now but I've put a lot of time and effort into it and about now I feel that I can start to improvise a little over standards.
I do this mostly using arpeggios and the scale shapes, but what i want to ask you is this:

I find that I hardly think about what notes I'm playing. I mean I know what note in the chord I'm playing because of the arpeggios but I never think that I'm playing for say an A or an E I just think that I'm playing the third of seventh and so on.

I think a fluteplayer or a saxophonist must think the notes all the time but I'm wondering how important it is for a guitarist to do this.

I hope you understand what I mean and give me your opinion.

[pinsk94]

I personally don't like to think to much or hard when improvising. It hurts my brain. But , I when practice, I'll take the time to see what notes (names, quality) sound like. To me, in the end its the sound thats important but the thoery is needed to make sence of it all. I guess for me, I always learned by theory first, then sound next. Hope this makes any sence at all.

[mattotten]

that is very natural, knowing all absolute notes is secondary, certainly not a priority.
You can learn that later.
Knowing relative positions, intervals, that is paramount

[jingles]

When I learn notes on the fretboard, i usually play after sheet music. That helps me organize fingerings and finding the notes. In time, you will be much better at knowing where the notes are Good luck.

Stian.

[mikec]

if you know your arpeggios and scales, then you are a really short step from knowing all the notes on the fretboard.
this is supposed to be one of the advantages of the CAGED system, it allows you to know alot of notes on the fretboard without having to think about it.
Just by linking up octaves in the caged system.
but also, learning to read is a very good way of filling in the gaps.
one position and string at a time.

[creative]

playing what I hear is my main goal.

Thinking is for practice.

I believe that is true for all instruments that improvise.

Miles quoted Parker saying "learn it and forget it"

That is so true when looking for your voice.

[scraggo]

Here is a good first step to really getting the notes on the fretboard: Start with an open string. Let's take the high E, the 1st string. Find all of the "white notes" in other words, the notes which don't have sharp or flats, which is synonymous with the C major scale. On frets 0 1 3 5 7 8 10 12 are the notes E F G A B C D E. Say them OUT LOUD as you play them. Do this for all the strings. There is a pattern - between E and F, and B and C, is 1 fret (half step) and the rest of the letters is a whole step. Emphasis: say the letter names out loud! 2nd step: Learn the notes in between, they are the sharps and flats.