[johnnydoxx]

Here's the background for my question:

There is a weekly jam session I attend. I get to sing into the mike and play a few songs in rotation with others, we all back each other.

Anyway, I play mostly bar chords, so I need to find the fretboard dots for many of the changes. When I'm at home, I'm not using a mike, so I can leisurely look down there ahead of time. I get to scan the fretboard, subliminally counting dots from the nut, to see the A or B etc.

When up at the mike, however, I need to keep my mouth oriented to it, or the sound will vary in volume. So there is often only a split second to glance for the dots, and no time to count. So sometimes I'll end up on A when I want B.

Other than becoming a much better guitar player in a hurry, I'm thinking of getting some of those stars like we had in kindergarten, and pasting them on the dots, a different color per dot. I don't think they will hurt the finish.

So finally, here's the question:
Any other suggestions?

Thanks
Johnny

[perry007]

johnnydoxx, I have the same problem. After I read your post, I put some of those round yardsale price tag sstickers. Good Ideal.
perry007

[allthumbs]

Why not but, do work on your hand muscle memory.

[johnnydoxx]

Allthumbs - I was thinking that I should have a muscle sense of how far B is from E, etc. at some place along the line. I think I will add a dab of closed-eye chording on occasion.
Good point, that's the solution to aspire for.

[starsailor]

Originally Posted by johnnydoxx

Allthumbs - I was thinking that I should have a muscle sense of how far B is from E, etc. at some place along the line. I think I will add a dab of closed-eye chording on occasion.
Good point, that's the solution to aspire for.

This may sound a bit mad but I have introduced into my practice a short part where I do practice with my eyes closed, I'm learning some scales at the moment, I'm still learning so early days but you'd be surprised how many notes you can hit right, I may be nuts but I'd still recommend it, it does heighten your senses, I needed to find a way to stop looking at the fretboard all the time which has become a bit of a habit for me so I came up with this as a solution and I was pleased with the way it worked

[eddiez152]

Johnny,

Do you have dots at the top of your neck? If not, why not have some installed. I don't think it to be expensive.

[johnnydoxx]

Thanks EddieZ, I have dots, but they are all the same size (small) and white. I can identify them easy enough with just a little time to look, but in the middle of a vocal note I can't sneak a look quick enough to discern the fretboard precisely, or my mouth will move away from the mike.

Anyway, I took on Allthumbs idea. I just played looking out the window and not at the fretboard except for the first chord. I was amazed on how successful that was. I played an E,A,B song perfectly the third time, and after that for 20 or so times I hardly ever missed it. Then I took on a song with ten chord changes and only missed a few in 10 repetitions of the song.

And this one I played 20 times and got only a few mistakes (can't tell you what the song is but it's from when you and I were young, sung by a duet noted for their nice harmonies - copyright police might be watching)

E B C#m G#m A E A G#m B
E B C#m G#m A E F#m B(A-bar form) E
A G#m A E F#m G#m A G#m B
E B C#m G#m A E F#m B(A-bar form) E

So I'm just going to discipline myself to practice looking elsewhere except for difficult changes. Heck I miss that many chords when I'm watching the neck.

[jimmyzowens]

how about a head set mic so you can look and sing , just until you get a little more practice

[johnnydoxx]

JimmyZ , I use the mike provided at the venue, but I actually have a mike and stand so duh why don't I set that up to practice in front of? Thanks for the suggestion, I sure can do that.

[eddiez152]

Good idea jimmy, all he has to do is plug it into their jack.

[Kirk Lorange]

Spend a couple of weeks playing without ever looking down at the neck ... feel your way to the right position when you screw up. You'll be surprised at how quickly your muscles will know exactly where you are and how to correct any deviations.

[johnnydoxx]

Thanks again Eddie Z, now I get what Jimmy was saying. But I am going to take Kirk's and Allthumbs route. That shows the most long-term gain and potential for all situations.

Thanks all for the comments and suggestions.