Tomo Fujita Guitar Wisdom

Hey,

Hope everyone is doing well under the circumstances.

I've been watching Tomo and practicing. I've learned the notes of the fretboard, C, F and G major triads.

My question is this:

Tomo taught us the C major scale, but then uses different scales in different lessons. In light of this: how should I approach learning triads? I'm guessing I shouldn't memorize the position of triads for every scale.

Thank you in advance :)

You should memorize all triads (major) on fretboard, but more importantly, you should understand why certain triad is on certain place.

For example C root triad (R M3 5) is on certain place because root note is the is C.. 1. inversion (M3 5 R) is on certain place is because ...
Learning triads will help you with fretboard memorization.

What you should not memorize is minor, diminished and augmented triads
( you find major shape (R M3 5 ) and flat M3 for minor triad => (R m3 5) => flat 5 is diminished, and (R M3 5#) is augmented).

Learning triads is very uncomfortable, but moment will come when, suddenly, you don't have trouble finding them..

To add to what Ante says, if you sing the triads before you play it root: do mi so, 1st inv: mi so do, 2nd inv: so do mi, then after a while you will know where the mi (3rd) is and you can just alter your major triad so mi goes down 1/2 step and then you have the minor triad. Same for diminished and augmented.

But Tomo recommends that we first learn major triads for one key on the top 3 strings (GBE), then next set of 3 strings (DGB), next ADG, and finally EAD. From there you can learn the other keys and after that minor.

So that way you don't get information overload and get frustrated. One new concept at a time, and if you struggle, go back a step and stay there until it is easy. It is natural for us to want to charge ahead because we think you understand and want to make progress, but it slows us down and makes us frustrated if we go too fast.

++ to all that has been said.
There are 9 major triad shapes to learn: 3 inversions times 3 string sets: (1-2-3) (2-3-4) (3-4-5 and 4-5-6 are the same).
For each of them I key off of where the root is.
I combine this with learning the letter names on the fretboard.
So I practice by randomly choosing a fret-string position, naming it, then playing a triad with that as root.
Or I randomly pick a note name, locate the nearest one on the fretboard, then play a triad around that.

I found that long before the triads were under my fingers I would have to construct them from R 3 5, do-mi-so, etc..
Eventually they just pop in my head. I'm still stumbling at times though and I always go back to "where is the root, where are 3 and 5". I try hard not to hunt for the right pattern but instead go for knowing scale degrees and the fretboard because that will always work and for the right musical theory reasons.

Here is Tomo's comment:

"Thanks so much for subscribing to my Guitar Wisdom. No memorization! Learn everything at an insanely slow pace, without any expectation of a fast track. There is no secret! There is no fast track! You can learn any Major scale on ONE STRING with the ONE FINGER approach. This is the best way to learn the fretboard. Then you will know the notes: names & degrees! Next, you can learn triads with my triad lessons. Develop a strong foundation. Learn the details, and soon you will be able to apply what you have learned."