learning the fret board

[ibanez777vbk]

morning all.ive been playing guitar 15 years 99% of the time ive just learned songs,now i want to improvise.is there a easy way to learn the fret board,i know all the notes,e f f# g g# a a# b c c# d d# e.but im to slow at finding where the notes are (bad short term memory due to brain injury).can anyone help.many thanks rob.

[The Euphor]

This is what I do.

I know the open chords in five positions. The CAGED system. Open C, A, G, E, D are the basis of all chords. They make up every barréchord. From this I have learned where the root of each are, otherwise it's hard to know the position. So, when I play an E7 barré in C shape - I know the E is on the 7. fret of the A string. I also at the same time see the other notes in the E7 chord. Knowing this with every chord. Which is not too hard, really. As long as you don't try to memorize everything. It might be just as good to see it based on the root note.

This has helped me very much during improvising. I know scales, I don't like to improvise with them. I prefer to use chords and intervals. Intervals to play what I hear in my head, and chords to get on track when I'm lost. After quite a few years, I'm able to play what I sing when I sing it. And sing what I play. A difference there.

Might be to some help.