Ever stare down at your electric guitar and wonder: Where the hell do I go from here? You’ve memorized a few pentatonic boxes. Maybe a major scale shape or two. But still—when it comes time to improvise, you freeze. The fretboard turns into a maze. You noodle. You hope. You guess.
Let me tell you the truth nobody else is saying:
If you don’t have a visual strategy for scales on the electric guitar, you’re always going to sound like a guy fumbling in the dark.
That’s why I created FretDeck—a visual system to finally make scales intuitive. No more YouTube rabbit holes. No more half-baked diagrams. Just a bulletproof system built for real players who want to own the neck.
And guess what? We're launching it on Kickstarter this summer. But more on that in a minute…
The Big Lie About Learning Scales
The typical advice is to memorize five pentatonic shapes. Then maybe tack on the CAGED system. Throw in a few three-note-per-string patterns, and boom—you’re a scale master, right?
Wrong.
Learning scales for electric guitar isn’t just about memorizing patterns. It’s about creating mental maps that connect your hands, ears, and brain.
The fretboard isn’t a set of boxes. It’s a terrain. And you need a map to explore it with purpose.
So let me give you a better way.
Stop Guessing. Start Shredding.
If you’re still fumbling through scale patterns and box shapes… it’s costing you progress.
FretDeck™ is the no-fluff system that shows you exactly how to master the fretboard—fast. Early access.
️This isn’t for dabblers. It’s for players who want results.
Click here to join the pre-launch now
Early access. Limited rewards. Don’t wait.
Start With Shapes That Move With You
Here’s a practice trick I picked up after teaching 100+ students and crafting 400+ blog articles: use movable scales tied to chords.
For example:
- Play your A minor pentatonic starting from the 5th fret, root on the 6th string.
- Now play that same shape in B minor—just slide it up to the 7th fret.
- Instantly, you’re building a shape-to-key relationship your brain won’t forget.
That’s what FretDeck teaches: mobility over memorization.
Practice Prompt: The Circle of 4ths Scale Drill
One of my favorite exercises from Chapter 11 of SoloCraft (and yes—it’s inside FretDeck too) is this:
Pick a single string. Start with the note C. Now walk through the circle of 4ths: C → F → Bb → Eb → Ab → Db… all on one string.
But here’s the twist:
- Say the note name as you play it
- Use a metronome (4 clicks per note)
- Don’t look at the neck unless you have to
Do that for 10 minutes a day and you’ll learn the entire fretboard in under a week. Most guitar players never try this. But once they do, their solos stop sounding like scale practice and start sounding like music.
Intervals Are the Secret Weapon
Scales don’t live in isolation. They’re made of intervals. Want to know what separates pros from amateurs?
Pros can feel what a minor 3rd sounds like. Amateurs count frets.
So map intervals across your electric guitar neck. I recommend setting your root at the 7th fret of the 5th string (E), and learning how every interval feels from there:
- Major 2nd: +2 frets
- Perfect 4th: next string, same fret
- Major 6th: 2 strings over, 1 fret back
That’s just scratching the surface. Want 60+ scale + interval drills mapped out visually? I’ve got you covered.
Why FretDeck Changes the Game
FretDeck isn’t just a learning tool—it’s a full visual strategy system.
- 60 guitar scales in every key
- Each card shows where, why, and how to play
- Learn pentatonic modes, major/minor shapes, CAGED overlays, and interval flow
- Built for electric guitarists who want speed, tone, and mastery
And this summer, we’re taking it to Kickstarter.
Only 500 decks in the first limited run.
Want in early?
Join the Kickstarter pre-launch list right now.
Before You Go—Try This 3-Step Scale Challenge
- Pick a key. Let’s say G.
- Find every G note on the fretboard (use the circle of 4ths to guide you).
- Play a minor pentatonic lick on every string using that root.
It’ll feel awkward at first. You might fumble.
But give it 5 days and you’ll be improvising with freedom, not fear.
This is the kind of challenge FretDeck was made for. And if you’re serious about owning the neck—not just visiting it—then you need a better map.
Ready to Level Up?
You’ve read blogs. You’ve watched videos. You’ve memorized scales for electric guitar before—only to forget them under pressure.
It’s time for something different.
Grab your spot in the FretDeck Kickstarter.
Click here to join now »
Want even more training? Join the Guitar Freaks Hangout Discord. We’ve got live jam nights, lick critiques, and early FretDeck access.
Let’s master the fretboard—one card at a time.
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Author bio:
Justin Comstock
Hello and welcome! My name is Justin and helping people learn the guitar is my passion. In 2015 we created a product called FretDeck and launched it on Kickstarter in 2016. It was a successful campaign reaching thousands of aspiring guitar players, giving them a brand new view into the fretboard. From the young age of 11 I have been obsessively immersed in the techniques and theory used by legendary guitarists.
