Finding Channels in the Fretboard with Jeb Sherrill (the chair guy)
Love Music More · hosted by Luke F. Walton
Guest: Jeb Sherrill
Watch or listen
Topics discussed
Host note
Jeb Sherrill built the chair system, his own way of mapping the guitar fretboard, after a YouTube video reframed how he saw the instrument, about seven years into a career that started three decades ago. We talk about what that reframe actually was: seeing the fretboard as one shape instead of a set of memorized box patterns.
He describes thinking diagonally across the neck instead of horizontally or vertically, and what changes once you stop seeing separate patterns and start seeing one channel running through all of them. Jeb also gets into something harder to pin down: visualizing music on the fretboard at night, a process he calls almost spiritual, and how that connects improvisation to composition rather than treating them as separate skills.
The conversation stays practical throughout: if your current method for learning guitar isn't working, the chair system is built around the idea that there's a more intuitive way in.
Selected moments
- Introduction to the chair system 1:56 Jeb explains how the chair system transformed his understanding of the fretboard and facilitated his journey in music.
- Epiphany about guitar playing 3:16 Jeb describes his moment of realization while watching a YouTube video that changed his approach to playing.
- Seeing music visually 6:01 Discussing how he visualizes music on the fretboard at night, Jeb shares about the spiritual and mystical aspects of playing.
- Improvisation and creativity 10:02 Jeb elaborates on the connection between improvisation in music and how it parallels the act of composing.
- Breaking traditional patterns 15:31 Explaining the shift from traditional box patterns to diagonal thinking on the fretboard for enhanced creativity.
- The impact of simplified systems 40:15 Discussing the accessibility of music creation and the importance of intuitive learning for aspiring musicians.
Selected excerpts
I started to see music on the fretboard, especially at night. I mean, I do this in my head and I just see the music on the fretboard, and it's... kind of spiritual.
You start realizing there’s really just one pattern. When you go diagonal, it’s a place that’s right in between the horizontal and the vertical, and it just kind of blooms.
It’s all about bringing order out of chaos, and when you start playing, it’s like you find these channels in the fretboard and these channels are the music.
The idea of being able to make something that affects people emotionally is just... there’s nothing more incredible.
...music and language are both ways that we as humans translate emotion and meaning.
If whatever method you're presently using for guitar isn't working for you, it might. I'm not saying it will, but it might.
FAQ
What is the chair system in guitar playing?
The chair system is an innovative approach created by Jeb Sherrill that helps guitarists understand the geometry and patterns of the fretboard, allowing for more intuitive and expressive playing.
How did Jeb Sherrill get into guitar?
Jeb started playing guitar about 30 years ago but faced challenges in learning traditional methods. A transformative experience about seven years ago led him to develop the chair system.
What can I learn from Jeb Sherrill's approach to guitar?
Listeners can learn about overcoming traditional patterns in guitar playing, the importance of improvisation, and the spiritual aspects of music-making, fostering a deeper connection with the instrument.
These pages are host notes, not a full transcript. An automatic transcript is on the Spotify episode.