Show HN: I created a game to memorize the fretboard

#1

Post by udit99 » Fri, May 26, 2023, 2:18 PM UTC

Hey guys I've been playing the guitar for many years but I felt like I had hit a wall and wasnt making progress. One of the things I realized was holding me back was unfamiliarity with the fretboard. I'd often find myself in situations like

“Uhh…Where’s the C# here?”

“Where’s the flat-3rd of this root on the 4th string?”

“Sure would be nice to know the closest min7 triad shape to play over here..”

I tried memorizing the fretboard the obvious way but it extreeemly boring for me. Being a developer, I decided to turn it into a game. I'd love for you guys to try it out and let me know what you think: It's at [www.fretboardfly.com](https://www.fretboardfly.com)

I've only built the first module right now which is for note memorization but there's been enough interest that I'm planning on building more modules. Please let me know if you like it, what you'd change about it and what other modules you'd like to see in future.

The stack is Vue 3/Nuxt 3/Firebase/Firestore/Tailwind deployed on Vercel. Happy to field questions on the tech side of things as well

Show HN: I created a game to memorize the fretboard
fretboardfly.com

Re: Show HN: I created a game to memorize the fretboard

#2

Post by codegladiator » Fri, May 26, 2023, 3:34 PM UTC

Sounds good. Jumping all over the fretboard makes it hard since I am beginner so I don't know any notes.

I tried setting up the filter, Frets 0-3 and string 1/2/3, but either I am doing something wrong or it doesnt respect the filter, the next note would still go outside the filter range.

Have bookmarked it.

Re: Show HN: I created a game to memorize the fretboard

#3

Post by danhau » Fri, May 26, 2023, 3:44 PM UTC

Neat! I’m having some issues with how things are displayed on my iPhone. The low E string wasn‘t reachable for me.

Musically speaking, I never really understood the point of knowing the notes on the fretboard. Scales, intervals and chords are waaaaay more useful to know. But I‘m self taught, so what do I know?

Re: Show HN: I created a game to memorize the fretboard

#4

Post by indigoabstract » Fri, May 26, 2023, 3:48 PM UTC

I like it, it's a great idea, at least in theory.

I did something similar to the 'practice mode' some years ago, just for myself, did not publish it. I used the The Synthesis ToolKit (STK) C++ library for the guitar sounds.

In the end, I didn't use it all that much, but I still believe in the idea. Maybe it's just hard to find the best expression/execution.

One idea that comes to mind is to highlight or find the different voicings/aliases and octaves for a given note, since most notes on guitar have at least 3-4 or four equivalents.

Another idea would be to color code the notes on the fretboard. Again, it's been tried before, but maybe there's a reasonably good way to make it stick into visual memory.

Re: Show HN: I created a game to memorize the fretboard

#5

Post by indigoabstract » Fri, May 26, 2023, 3:52 PM UTC

danhau wrote: post #3

Neat! I’m having some issues with how things are displayed on my iPhone. The low E string wasn‘t reachable for me. Musically speaking, I never really understood the point of knowing the notes on the fretboard. Scales, intervals and chords are waaaaay more useful to know. But I‘m self taught, so what do I know?

If you know the notes on the fretboard, you can easily(with practice ofc) pick up the melody in any song, and build/reconstruct the chords from there to learn the song.

To me, it's easier to learn a song this way than by reading guitar tabs or notes.

Re: Show HN: I created a game to memorize the fretboard

#6

Post by fnord77 » Fri, May 26, 2023, 3:54 PM UTC

be nice if there was a "learning" mode where it shows you where things are and then quizzes you.

like that game "Memory" or Simon says.

Also this is training you visually. wouldn't it be better to train you by feel?

Re: Show HN: I created a game to memorize the fretboard

#7

Post by udit99 » Fri, May 26, 2023, 3:55 PM UTC

codegladiator wrote: post #2

Sounds good. Jumping all over the fretboard makes it hard since I am beginner so I don't know any notes. I tried setting up the filter, Frets 0-3 and string 1/2/3, but either I am doing something wrong or it doesnt respect the filter, the next note would still go outside the filter range. Have bookmarked it.

the ui control is wonky...colored means unselected, black means selected (I had it the other way round and people complained so I flipped it). Make sure you have the right selections if you're not seeing it work right. I will fix it soon and make a more intuitive interface Let me know if if fixes your problem Thanks

Re: Show HN: I created a game to memorize the fretboard

#8

Post by udit99 » Fri, May 26, 2023, 3:57 PM UTC

danhau wrote: post #3

Neat! I’m having some issues with how things are displayed on my iPhone. The low E string wasn‘t reachable for me. Musically speaking, I never really understood the point of knowing the notes on the fretboard. Scales, intervals and chords are waaaaay more useful to know. But I‘m self taught, so what do I know?

Hi there Can you send me a screenshot and tell me what iPhone it is?

I see fretboard orientation as relying on multiple techniques: 1. Notes 2. Intervals 3. Scale patterns

Notes are not the only way to orient but they're a start. I'm planning on adding more modules about intervals pretty soon

Re: Show HN: I created a game to memorize the fretboard

#9

Post by udit99 » Fri, May 26, 2023, 3:59 PM UTC

indigoabstract wrote: post #4

I like it, it's a great idea, at least in theory. I did something similar to the 'practice mode' some years ago, just for myself, did not publish it. I used the The Synthesis ToolKit (STK) C++ library for the guitar sounds. In the end, I didn't use it all that much, but I still believe in the idea. Maybe it's just hard to find the best expression/execution. One idea that comes to mind is to highlight or find the diff…

Thats a great idea about the voicings...I might build that as a separate module

I think you should publish it if you still have the code...make it open source on Github and see if other people are interested in taking the idea forward

Re: Show HN: I created a game to memorize the fretboard

#10

Post by awhitty » Fri, May 26, 2023, 4:11 PM UTC

Looks great! I like the idea of focusing on highlighted regions at a time. I spent some time exploring similar form factors for learning the fretboard, focusing intervals and shapes more than the notes themselves (link below) - I implemented a two-step drag-and-release gesture with visual feedback for selecting positions on a mobile device, and I think it helps avoid frustrating mis-taps. Maybe something to consider for your UI as well. The additional modules look interesting! Bookmarked.

https://awhitty.me/fretcards/