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Master the Fretboard: FretDeck Kickstarter Brings Pentatonic Scales to Life

Master the Fretboard: FretDeck Kickstarter Brings Pentatonic Scales to Life

If you’ve ever struggled with memorizing guitar scales, improvising fluid solos, or navigating the fretboard beyond your usual comfort zones, you’re not alone. The vast world of music theory and scale patterns can be intimidating—even for seasoned players.

But what if mastering pentatonic scales could be as easy as flipping a deck of cards?

Welcome to FretDeck, a fresh, visual learning tool designed by Guitar Freaks Blog founder Justin Comstock, now live on Kickstarter. This project is more than just a deck of cards—it’s a gateway to better improvisation, soloing, and understanding your guitar like never before.

Let’s dive into the details of what Guitar Freaks Blog offers, what makes the FretDeck unique, and why this Kickstarter campaign is gaining attention from guitarists around the world.

What Is Guitar Freaks Blog?

Master the Fretboard: FretDeck Kickstarter Brings Pentatonic Scales to Life

Guitar Freaks Blog is a dedicated guitar education platform that offers:

  • Insightful blog posts on gear, theory, and guitar culture

  • A growing Discord community

  • Free eBooks and learning resources

  • The Guitar Freaks Podcast, where host Justin Comstock interviews musicians and dives into technique, tone, and inspiration

The site is clearly made by a guitarist for guitarists. It isn’t flashy or corporate—it’s practical, heartfelt, and educational. Whether you’re learning your first scale or fine-tuning your solos, the blog offers free content that makes music theory approachable.

The Pentatonic Problem: Why Most Guitarists Get Stuck

Master the Fretboard: FretDeck Kickstarter Brings Pentatonic Scales to Life

Let’s face it—pentatonic scales are foundational. They’re used across blues, rock, country, metal, funk, and beyond. But despite their importance, many guitarists hit a wall with them. They:

  • Memorize one or two box shapes

  • Struggle to link scale patterns across the fretboard

  • Avoid certain keys due to unfamiliarity

  • Improvise within narrow comfort zones

Traditional teaching methods emphasize diagrams and theory but often fail to give students tactile, visual reinforcement.

This is the precise problem FretDeck aims to solve.

Introducing FretDeck: A Visual Pentatonic Scale Learning System

Master the Fretboard: FretDeck Kickstarter Brings Pentatonic Scales to Life

Now featured on Kickstarter, the FretDeck Pentatonic Guitar Scales deck is the second iteration of a concept Justin first launched in 2016. It has been redesigned and reimagined for modern guitarists seeking a better way to learn.

What’s Inside the Deck?

Master the Fretboard: FretDeck Kickstarter Brings Pentatonic Scales to Life
  • 60+ Cards: Each card displays a pentatonic scale shape across a fretboard visual.

  • All Keys and Modes: Includes major and minor pentatonic scales in every key.

  • Color-coded positions: Helps identify patterns and transitions between positions.

  • Practice Prompts: Some cards include creative improvisation exercises.

  • Bonus Courses:

    • Pentatonic Secrets Course: Shows you how to use the deck with 6 improvisation prompts and jam tracks.

    • Chord Secrets Course: Teaches how to connect chord progressions with scale choices.

Who Is This For?

Master the Fretboard: FretDeck Kickstarter Brings Pentatonic Scales to Life
  • Beginner guitarists who want a simple, structured approach to pentatonics

  • Intermediate players who are stuck in a few familiar boxes

  • Advanced improvisers looking to unlock new modal approaches

  • Teachers who want a visual tool for student engagement

How Does FretDeck Work?

FretDeck isn’t just for memorization—it’s a practice tool.

Here’s how you might use it:

  1. Shuffle the Deck: Pull a random card and play the scale pattern across the fretboard.

  2. Play a Backing Track: Improvise using the selected scale in context.

  3. Apply Modal Thinking: Use a card to shift your playing into different tonalities.

  4. Combine Chord + Scale Cards: From the bonus courses, apply chord knowledge to your lead phrasing.

Each session with FretDeck becomes a game, lesson, and jam all in one.

Key Benefits of Using FretDeck

Benefit Explanation
Visual Learning See exactly where to place your fingers on the fretboard
Scalable Practice Tailored for beginners and pros alike
Improved Improvisation Explore fresh melodic ideas in any key
Theory Reinforcement Learn how modes and positions connect without dry textbooks
Dynamic Practice Routine Cards add variety to prevent stale practice sessions
Memory Boost Repetition through play helps you naturally internalize patterns


FretDeck brings an element of play to what is usually a rote and technical practice. You aren’t just memorizing; you’re exploring.

Kickstarter Details: Why Now?

The Kickstarter campaign is Justin’s way of bringing the newly upgraded FretDeck to life for a larger audience. The original version sold out after his first launch in 2016. This updated edition is printed on higher-quality stock, includes more positions, and is paired with online learning materials.

Master the Fretboard: FretDeck Kickstarter Brings Pentatonic Scales to Life

Pledge Tiers and Rewards

  • $10 Digital Pack: PDF version of the deck

  • $20 FretDeck Pack: Full printed deck with instructions

  • $35 Bundle: Printed deck + online course access

  • $50+ tiers: Signed decks, early backer rewards, and teacher kits

Master the Fretboard: FretDeck Kickstarter Brings Pentatonic Scales to Life

Justin is offering early-bird pricing for the first wave of backers, with stretch goals at $15K and $25K that may unlock new content or special editions.

Shipping & Fulfillment

The campaign is clearly laid out with realistic timelines. Fulfillment is expected a few months post-campaign, with global shipping options included.

What Are People Saying?

Master the Fretboard: FretDeck Kickstarter Brings Pentatonic Scales to Life
Master the Fretboard: FretDeck Kickstarter Brings Pentatonic Scales to Life
Master the Fretboard: FretDeck Kickstarter Brings Pentatonic Scales to Life

While the campaign is still gaining traction, early supporters and returning users from the first FretDeck iteration have praised its:

  • “Simplicity and effectiveness”

  • “Game-like practice that made scales fun again”

  • “Visual aid that finally helped connect box patterns into actual solos”

The project is especially attractive to self-taught guitarists, who often lack structure in their learning.

Meet Justin Comstock: The Mind Behind FretDeck

Master the Fretboard: FretDeck Kickstarter Brings Pentatonic Scales to Life

Justin Comstock isn’t just a developer—he’s a passionate guitar teacher, podcast host, and player who has spent more than 20 years in the guitar world.

His Background:

  • Began playing guitar at 11, heavily influenced by Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, AC/DC, and blues legends.

  • Launched Guitar Freaks Blog to share free resources and connect with a global guitar community.

  • Hosted over 100 podcast episodes featuring guitarists, teachers, and gear experts.

Justin’s approach is non-corporate, grassroots, and sincere. He believes in visual learning, community, and the idea that every player can grow through fun, structured tools.

This is not a faceless product—it’s a reflection of his own teaching style and experience.

Master the Fretboard: FretDeck Kickstarter Brings Pentatonic Scales to Life

Final Thoughts: Why You Should Back FretDeck

Learning pentatonic scales is one thing. Using them fluidly across your entire fretboard is another.

FretDeck offers a path between the two.

If you're tired of:

  • Getting stuck in a few comfortable positions

  • Feeling bored during scale practice

  • Forgetting how modes work

  • Searching YouTube for random jam ideas

...then this deck is for you.

Back the campaign, get the deck, and start soloing with confidence, creativity, and clarity.

Support the Campaign

👉 Check out the FretDeck Kickstarter campaign here

👉 Visit Guitar Freaks Blog for free resources, podcasts, and more from Justin

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