FRETMEISTER
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History

After I had been playing baritone ukulele for about a year, I decided it was time to go a bit further than strumming the same 1st position chords. 
I have always found it easiest to learn from visual aids and, although I got an excellent book with pages and pages of diagrams and detailed explanations, I struggle with learning from books (or screens) so I set about making myself something that would let me see a visual representation of all that information.
Picture
Prototype Baritone Ukulele Fretmeister made with tracing paper and card
Initially, I just had notes that were OK to play (white) and notes to not play (black) which changed depending on which key I selected by sliding a see-through fretboard along the pattern of notes. Then I added the pentatonic scale and root notes which, I noticed, maintained the same pattern across all keys. Then I discovered finger patterns and realised that I could just add them and they would fit into the fixed pattern as well. It may look rough but it was a useful tool for me to take the next step in my playing.
When a friend came round (a guitarist who has been playing for many years), he saw it and said "That's brilliant, I want one". So I made him one for guitar.
Picture
Mark 2 Guitar Fretmeister printed on acetate and paper with internal slide and chords.
Other people also thought it was a good thing and, with feedback and suggestions from musical family members, friends and guitar shop managers, I simplified it and decided to go into production.

​I hope this is the beginning of a long story
©Adam Rubinstein2017
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  • Home
    • Best Guitar learning aid
    • STARS
    • Music teachers
    • Blog
  • Using your Fretmeister
    • Tutorials
    • Chords, Keys & Scales
    • The Fretboard
    • Finger Patterns
  • Discovering more
    • Writing songs
    • Discovering the Fretboard
    • The Blues
    • History
  • Contact
  • Guitar
  • Ukulele
  • Baritone Ukulele
  • Bass