Here's some practice tips to increase your fretboard knowledge, i.e. knowing which notes are where.

We'll begin by considering each string in just the first 12 frets, as note positions are mirrored in the next 12.

This exercise will be done along the string, one finger per fret and shifting positon every 4 frets.

1) From the open string, play each note until fret 12 saying the note names (use sharps).

Example on the 6th string: E(open), F, F#, G, G# / A, A#, B, C / C#, D, D#, E (12th fret).

2) From fret 12, name each note until the open string saying the note names (use flats).

Example on the 6th string: E, Eflat, D, Dflat / C, B, Bflat, A /  Aflat, G, Gflat, F / E (open string).

3) From the open string, play each note until fret 12 saying the note names (use flats).

4) From fret 12, name each note until the open string saying the note names (use sharps).

You are learning note names as sharps and flats, avoiding the need for a translation when you look for a Dflat or Gflat.

Now write on a fretbard diagram all notes with the same name on different strings, seeing them geometrically instead of horizontally. Basically you are seeing octaves.

Here's some exercises:

1) Play all notes with same name (say, F#) from the ones nearest the headstock to the ones closest to the body.

2) Play all notes with same name (say, Gflat) string by string, from 1 to 6 and vice versa.

3)Like ex.2 but using a metronome: this is not a speed exercise but a visualisation one, so begin slowly, one note per beat.

These exercises also apply to 7-strings; they will perfect your fingerboard knowledge quickly if you keep at them. Remember, the last ones are the most difficult so don't skip any.

Buon lavoro!