Hi BP9,

I like your tape-idea, as it adds more useful, learnable information to your process with getting solidly oriented to the frets.

"My thought - get tiny pieces of tape, number 1, 2, 3 etc. place on the frets until I know the frets with no hesitation."

I would also suggest saying the fret-number OUT LOUD as you go to each fret.

And if you are studying what the actual notes are that you are playing, again, say them out loud as you practice.

We learn best when we tap into a variety of our senses and ways of processing what we are learning as we absorb new information.