Every note on your fretboard, right in front of you.
The Hot Rod is a printable template you cut out, fold up, and keep right at your guitar — a hands-on guide that shows how every note lines up on all six strings. Download it once, print it at home, and start seeing your neck instead of guessing at it.
- Instant digital download
- One-time payment
- Lynn Ellsworth approved
- $10 — one time
- Pay once and the files are yours. No subscription, no add-ons.
- Print at home
- PDF files built for a normal home printer — card stock recommended.
- Beginners to regulars
- Easy to pick up on day one, useful as a quick reference for years.
From download to your guitar in minutes
After years of figuring out the easiest way to teach guitar, Chris Silvia made the perfect solution for anybody — a physical guide that puts the map of the neck in your hands.
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01
Download & print
Grab the PDF files and print them on your home printer. The instructions recommend 8.5×11 card stock if you can — it holds up better at the guitar.
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02
Cut it out
Cut out the template with scissors and put it together following the included instructions. It's simple — no special tools, no experience needed.
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03
See every note
Line it up with your guitar and watch the neck make sense — fret numbers and note names for every string, visible while you play.
Watch the demo
Two minutes that show why players call it easy. See the Hot Rod next to a real guitar and watch how quickly the neck opens up.
- The finished tool up close
- How the note layout follows the strings
- What you'll make from the download
Approved by a guitar legend's builder
“The Hot Rod is approved” — from the man who built Eddie Van Halen's Frankenstrat
Lynn Ellsworth — the builder behind one of the most famous guitars in rock history — has put his name behind The Hot Rod. When the person who built the Frankenstrat says a teaching tool works, players listen.
Lynn Ellsworth
What people think about the Hot Rod
I like how easy it was to use. I recommend it highly, whether you're a beginner or an advanced player — The Hot Rod worked for me.
— A Hot Rod player
That's the whole idea: easy enough for your first week of guitar, still useful when you're years in.
One price. Everything included.
The Hot Rod
instant download
- PDF files to print at home from your own printer
- Full instructions — cut it out, put it together, play
- Lightweight and portable — take the neck map anywhere
Printer and guitar not included. Digital download — no shipping, no waiting.
Buy now — $10Secure checkout on thehotrodgntt.com
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Delivery guaranteeIf your download link doesn't arrive or the file won't open, we'll resend it or replace it — free.
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Secure checkoutSafe, encrypted payment on thehotrodgntt.com.
How you get your download
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Click Buy Any button on this page takes you straight to The Hot Rod in the store.
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Check out securely in the store Pay through the store's encrypted checkout — the payment is handled there, start to finish.
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Download link emailed instantly Your download link arrives in the email confirmation as soon as your order is complete.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is The Hot Rod?
It's a printable guitar neck teaching tool. You download the PDF files, print them at home, cut out the template, and assemble it with the included instructions. The finished piece is a hands-on reference showing fret numbers and note names across every string — a map of your neck you can hold.
What do I need to use it?
Just a printer, scissors, and the included instructions. The instructions recommend printing on 8.5×11 card stock if possible, since it stands up better at the guitar — plain paper works too. Printer and guitar not included.
I'm a total beginner. Is this for me?
Yes — The Hot Rod was designed to be the easiest way to start learning the neck. And as one player put it, it's just as useful if you're advanced and want a quick visual reference while you play.
How do I get the files after I buy?
The Hot Rod is a digital download, so there's no shipping and no waiting. After checkout on the store, you get instant access to the files and can print right away.
Who made The Hot Rod?
Chris Silvia, who started building it in 2007 after years of figuring out the easiest way to teach people guitar. That same year, the design was branded — and it's still helping players see the neck today.
Stop guessing at the neck.
Get The Hot Rod and see every note on your guitar — printed, built, and in your hands today.
Get The Hot Rod — $10