So, I have played guitar for almost 15 years now. Started on classical and went over to bluegrass.... On a classical guitar there are no fret markers, you just kind of have to figure it out for better or worse. So how do you figure it out?

I think it stars with landmarks.Index plays fret one, middle on fret two, ring on three and pinky on four. After that you just creep the hand up etc.... the index on 5, middle on 6 etc....long jumps like on Blackbird are hard even if you can see... But...most guitar fretboard join the body on the 14 fret, except classical guitars or slope shoulders and parlor guitars, but that is just landmarking.

At the end of the day, I think just having jam time and getting familiar with your instrument will win the day. Music is not all that visual. You will make mistakes, learn to hear them, learn to feel the frets under your fingers, practice, it won't happen overnight but keep at it and it will happen.

BTW Blackbird, is based off of patterns (as most music is). You may be making jumps up the fretboard but your hand will be in the same shapes/patterns as it jumps. First realize how all the jumps relate to each other, know the patterns and then start jumping. Blind or not, music is hard, go to any open mic if you don't believe me.

Long story short, putting markers are not the solution. You need to just play enough so you intuitively know where you are on the fretboard. It is hard, that is why there is only one Jimi Hendrix or Beehtovan (spelling?).

When I started getting eye surgeries and losing sight, I lost my ability to drive, had a hard time getting around... but.... I can still play music, I still have something to offer. So maybe this post is a bit of a letter to myself, but bro, you can play, you can make jumps and figure out the fretboard. Also Blackbird might be too much right now, Eleanor Rigny might be a good intermediate step, perhaps "Freight Train" or "Dust in the Wind"?

You just kind of have to remember how much you extend your hand down the neck and with that position feels like. I know exactly what you're talking about with Blackbird. Eventually it will become part of your muscle memory exactly where you want to go on the fretboard.

Use your ear, it's not a tactile landmark what you are looking for. Play the note individualy, and then practice sliding from one fret to the next, and then go a bit further. The while you play the slide the pitch changes fast, so you need to learn the toneof the fret you want to land on. Practice sliding slow and then speed up..

agreed. I still miss slides too, but I'm slowly getting to the point
where I start to feel it before I miss it, like I know I've moved a touch too far. Slow metronome it for a while, play first fret, 13th fret, first fret, 13th fret etc at 100 bpm, then second, 14th...across as far as you want. Do each of those 10 times slowly. You'll crack it. Also remember to do it standing up or wearing a strap because the neck angle differs from sitting to standing and you do not wana shoot for that slide on a gig and fuck it up.

I have no idea. Like I can do it consistently, I think it comes down to some sort of awareness of the neck. As they're fixed frets, if you start to feel comfortable with your instrument's neck, these issues may go away. Sorry for not having more specific tips. You'll just learn it on time... Or not. You may develop a style of your own, where you don't need to do much large skips across the neck.

Guitar, bass and double bass here. It is literally all about the time you put into the instrument. You can probably throw some scotch tape or something on your neck, but could become a crutch. Just keep playing and listen to these other recommendations.

Not a guitar player, I play piano occasionally.

I've always wondered how on earth those 4 strings produce so many notes. Lol!

This explains it I guess! Looks like those cool looking guys in college were just sliding around! I use to think that they must be changing the notes of strings by titening or loosening that key thing on top, I was wrong I suppose.

Thank you for questions and answers.