Eric Johnson is a bona fide modern day guitar great, so every time he talks tone and technique, we listen. In a new interview with Guitarist, the Stratocaster master offered some sage advice for players that feel “trapped in patterns”, and shared a valuable lesson in the quest to achieve total fretboard freedom. “I think most guitar players, except maybe a few, are still addicted or somewhat trapped in patterns,” he reflects. Like Johnson says, it's a daunting task, but fear not: we have a step-by-step deep dive into mastering the entire fretboard to help you. And, for those who graduate from this particular lesson, Johnson is also an excellent case study in leveling up your soloing.