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Step-up guide

Know your fretboard

The step-up guide for guitarists who know their open chords and want more. Where the notes are, the major scale in every position, how chords come out of it, barre chords, pentatonic lead across the whole neck, triads on every string set, and the blues and country tricks: flat notes, landing on the third, the tritone and double stops. It starts with a riff you can play on day one, and every exercise ends with how to make it musical. Written by James for his own students.

$29 AUD · one-off

31-page PDF · Instant download · Secure payment via Stripe

Want the complete course? See the 22-book Guitar Pathway →

Cover of Know Your Fretboard by James McHugh

What's inside

Every note on the neck

The notes on the E and A strings, octave shapes and shortcuts, so you can find any root, any chord, any key.

The major scale, properly

The formula and scale degrees, five positions across the neck, and all seven three-notes-per-string patterns.

Chords and barre chords

How chords come out of the scale, the Nashville numbers, and six barre shapes that cover every major, minor and 7 chord.

Pentatonic across the neck

All five boxes, the full-neck map, a diagonal run from the nut to fret 17, the blues scale and the major pentatonic.

Triads everywhere

Major, minor and diminished on all four string sets, ladders that connect a key up the neck, and the blueprint for every chord in one position.

Blues and country colour

The flat notes and how to use them, landing on the third, the b7 and the tritone, and double stops in thirds and sixths over a progression.

Take a peek

Double stops over a progression page from the plan
Double stops over a progression
Triads on every string set page from the plan
Triads on every string set

Made for you if

From James's students

★★★★★

Learning guitar as an adult is no small feat, but James makes the whole process enjoyable and never makes me feel silly for being a beginner.

Alex B.
Google review
★★★★★

I started with James over two years ago with no guitar experience and have been having weekly lessons ever since. James explains music theory in a way I can actually understand, and if something doesn't click, he'll try different examples until it makes sense.

Nick C.
Google review

Read all reviews on the Pricing page →

Common questions

Is this for beginners?

It's the next step after beginner. If you're just starting, the 30-day starter plan comes first.

Do I need to read music?

No. Everything uses fretboard diagrams, chord boxes and numbers, all explained in the guide.

Acoustic or electric?

Either. Everything in the guide works on both.

How do I get it?

Straight after payment you can download the PDF, and the link is emailed to you as well so you can get it again any time.

I have lessons with James. Is it the same material?

It's the material James teaches, in one place you can keep and practise from between lessons. Bring it along and work through any page together.

Would lessons help as well?

Many people use the plan alongside lessons. James teaches in South Melbourne and online, and is happy to pick up wherever you are in the plan. Book a trial lesson.

Contact

Get in touch.

Talk to James
0499 232 898 jamesmcqmusic@gmail.com
The studio
Home studio, South MelbourneFree street parking, tram nearby
Monday to Thursday, 12pm to 9pmFriday, 12pm to 4:30pm