Generally, musicians are brought up learning their craft from their parents, a variety of instructors and directors, as well as other musicians. Piano and string instruments, specifically, are taught by memorizing the placement of notes and chords.

Science teacher, Scott Sharp, was faced with a frustrating task: teaching himself guitar and memorizing such notes and chords without any musical background.

With the help of a piano and a brain, Sharp discovered a completely new way to master the piano and stringed instruments. This idea slowly became the Fretboard Toolbox, a series of books, individually designed for specific instruments.

He says he created the Fretboard Toolbox method because he says, “I needed a way to see how theory applied to my guitar, in a way that did not take a Master’s Degree in music theory to figure out.”

In the series, there are books designed for guitar and blues guitar, original and blues mandolin, 5-string banjo, tenor banjo, ukulele and piano.

Sharp’s idea involves less memorizing and more creative listening. In the Fretboard Toolbox books, Sharp shows the reader the notes they will need to make up a chord. Below, there is a grid of the instrument showing the placement of those notes. The reader can then discover multiple ways to make the desired chord without struggling to memorize the exact placement of each finger.

“We are born knowing what sounds good together and what doesn’t,” Sharp said.

Since every person is born with this ability, Fretboard Toolbox gives a person the guide they will need to create the sounds they desire.

20 year musical veteran, Joe Pickett, from Lawerence, Kan. says, “The Fretboard Toolbox Mandolin Edition is a great visual reference and way to learn theory, chord building and soloing in a useful book format. It’s helpful for beginners learning the basics, all the way up to advanced players wanting to learn to create advanced chord voicings.”

The popularity of Fretboard Toolbox is spreading, around the world even.

“Today, I got an order from France. It’s really cool knowing that a person from another country is buying something you just made in your house,” Sharp said.

His website, www.fretboard-toolbox.com, has several positive reviews about the books.

Michael Paull, composer, instrumentalist and teacher at the Americana Music Academy says, “Both the Fretboard Toolbox Guitar and the Blues Guitar Editions are extremely impressive. They are exceptionally clear guides with which to navigate through the labyrinth of patterns that make up scales and chords. Everything I’d want to learn FIRST about this often murky subject is laid out in a way that seems to connect all the dots, and arm the student with the kinds of tools he/she can use right away.”

Sharp not only has a website, but there are demonstrations on YouTube as well at www.youtube.com/user/fretboardtoolbox.

“I read a book about Ben Franklin, he invented so many things; I wanted to invent something,” Sharp said.