Yeah that is a good way to teach it, although I had them learn all the notes from open position to fourth fret before going on to different positions. I think I might re-invent that though.

The other exercise, I use all the time in ear training. Although starting of with just playing any random note and then trying to name it can be fairly difficult to a beginning guitarist. I did it through these steps first.

(with eyes closed)

1. Just open strings, play any open string and try to name it. Pretty easy since finger knowledge kind of gives it away. (An extra test in this area is to use a capo, and then try to name the string being played.)

2. Do what you had said but only use one string at a time. Play it open than hit any fret on that string and name it. If your wrong, correct yourself by playing the note you though it was, and the one you actually played so you can hear the difference. Feel free to play back and forth between open and the fretted note, until you are confident on what note is played.

3. Then combine 1 and 2 by playing any open string at random then any fretted note on that same string.

4. Now do what you said, by eliminating the open string. After going through the above steps, the student will be better prepared for that last more difficult step. That last step is pretty close to perfect pitch but with alittle help from finger knowledge. If some difficulty ensues, try just using one string at first and as you get better start adding more strings.

If you have a student going through this, as a teacher it is better to test the student after they seem confident in each step before moving on. You play and they name, and if possible use there guitar to test them.

[Edited by noticingthemistake on 01-26-2004 at 02:40 PM]