Unlike piano keys, there is no clear repeat pattern for notes on a guitar. To learn chords, short phrases, and songs, you'll first need to know the names of the notes on the fretboard. With a little patience and an understanding of the basics of guitar playing and music theory, anyone can figure out the notes on a guitar. Notes:
This applies to “standard tuning,” which is the most common string pattern for guitars. In standard settings, the order of open strings from top to bottom is E A D G B E.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Learning the Essentials
Step 1. Study the open strings, or notes on each string that are not pressed on the fret
The guitar consists of six strings, the thickest and heaviest strings are at the top and the thinnest strings are at the bottom. The guitar strings are counted from the bottom up so that the one string is the thin string and the six string is the thick string. The guitar notes from bottom to top are E B G D A E. There are various ways to remember the pitch of a string, but the simplest are:
- Eexport
- Bpermission
- Gandum
- Dari
- Aamerica
- Eropa
Step 2. Understand that notes are graded alphabetically from A to G
In western music, notes are written as the letters A–G. After G, the note returns to A, but a higher version of A. As you move down the fretboard (towards the body of the guitar), you are repeating a note. Therefore, the E fret is higher than the F and G, then the A note.
- The tone before the cycle is considered as lower. So, the B note is lower than the next C note.
- The tone after the cycle is considered as higher. So, the E note is higher than the previous D note.
Step 3. Identify the sharps and moles in the letters
The notes in between are called “crunch” (represented by #) and “mole” (represented by). Sharp is the note right after the letter, such as the note A→ becomes A# and mole is the note immediately before the note, such as D♭ becomes E. Sharp and mole can be alternated. For example, a note between C and D can be spelled out as C# or D♭. Tones of a complete set are as follows:
- A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#
- Note that there are no E# or B# notes. E and B never have a sharpness, and the notes jump straight from E→F. Thus, there are also no C♭ or F♭ notes. If you remember these rules, memorizing guitar notes will become easy.
Step 4. Slide one fret down to raise a half note
The frets on the guitar are numbered, number 0 is the open string, number 1 is the fret closest to the head of the guitar, and so on. Simply slide a fret from one note to the next to raise half a note (A→ A#), including sharps and moles, and a full step is to skip two notes (A→ B, B→ C#). The increment of each fret is a half-note increment from the previous note. So:
- On the topmost string which is the first note (open string) is E.
- The first fret on the top string is F (remember, there is no E# tone)
- The second fret on the top string is F#.
- The third fret on the top string is G.
- And so on down. Try naming each note on one string. If correct, you will return to the note of E on the 12th fret.
Step 5. Find all the notes on the first string
The basic note is a tone without sharpness or moles (A, B, C, D, E, F, G). The top string (sixth string), the E note, is the best place to learn. On this string, there are several important notes marked with dots on the fretboard.
- E is an open string
- F is on the first fret
- G is on the third fret
- A is on the fifth fret
- B is on the seventh fret.
- C is on the eighth fret
- D is on the tenth fret
- The E is on the twelfth fret, and then the cycle of note patterns repeats.
Step 6. Understand that the guitar only has 12 frets
The frets are metal rods that sit on the neck of the guitar. When you press the string above the fret, it will give off a note, if shifted gradually. However, at the twelfth fret (Typically marked by two dots on the guitar), the guitar notes will repeat itself. The twelfth fret is identical to the note on the open string, and so on repeats. This means that you only need to learn the notes on frets 0-12 because after the twelfth fret, the notes will be the same.
- On the twelfth fret, for example, your note should be E B G D A E, from the bottom string to the top.
- This happens because in Western music there are only 12 total notes--A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#. After the twelfth note then you will return to the initial note.
Method 2 of 2: Finding the Right Tone Everywhere
Step 1. Learn each note individually
This is better than trying to learn all the guitar notes at once. Memorize the first string, then focus on one letter completely. Start by finding all the E notes between the guitar head and the twelfth fret and then move on to the other letters. Learning all the notes at once is unproductive and too confusing. So, try to study the notes individually. There are many theories on how to learn the order of notes, but the sequence E–G–B–F–D–A–C is pretty good.
- Practice playing only one note, using the same finger each time. Practice at a slow pace until you can find each note without looking.
- You can use the top string to find almost any note. Once you know the notes on the low E string, you can use the same trick to find other notes.
Step 2. Use octaves to find the same note on the lower strings
Octave is the same note, but produces a different pitch. To understand it, imagine a singer who harmonizes perfectly, one singer is high-pitched, another singer is low and deep, and singing to the same note. It's easy to find notes when you use octaves on your guitar. Just move two strings down, and then two frets forward. For example, start on the sixth string, third fret. This is a G note. If you move to the fourth string at the fifth fret, it is a G note as well.
-
There is one exception to the use of octaves. The second string (the open B note) is half a note higher than the others. So, to find an octave, down two strings, then forward three frets.
Image Step 3. Understand that identical notes are only one string and 5 frets apart
If you go down one string, then move to the left 5 frets, you'll find yourself on the same note. For example, if you start on the fourth string, tenth fret, you will get the same note on the third string of the fifth fret (Both pitched C)
- You can also do it in reverse. Going up one string and moving five frets to the right will produce the same note.
- As with octaves, the second fret is an exception. If you are on the second string, the way to get the same note is to move to the third string at the fourth fret instead of the fifth. So, an identical B note on the third string of the fourth fret is the open second string (B), or 0. fret
Learn All the Notes on the Guitar Step 10 Step 4. Find the note pattern on the fretboard
There are lots of variations to tricks and pitch patterns to find more notes without a second thought. Using octaves and pitch equalization, you can try using these tricks to help find any note as you practice:
- The two uppermost and lowermost strings are E notes, they are identical
- The fourth (D) string, identical to the E string, is lowered two frets.
- The third open string (G string), identical to the A string down two frets
- Two open strings (B strings), identical to the A string "raised" two frets.
Learn All the Notes on the Guitar Step 11 Step 5. Take 5-10 minutes in each exercise to find all the notes
For example, your first week might use the first 5 minutes of practice looking for every E on the guitar. During the week, find and play every E on the fretboard. Practice until you don't have to count or see all the E's anymore. The following week, practice each F on the guitar. After a few weeks, you'll be happy you've memorized all the fretboard notes on the guitar
- Pick a guitar piece and move only up and down on all the guitar strings. Strum only the note E in the small squares as you begin your practice. Slowly build up your playing speed until you know all the E notes on the fretboard.
- Don't worry too much about the frets and moles. Once you understand the basic notes, it will be easy for you to find them.
Learn All the Notes on the Guitar Step 12 Step 6. Learn to read music to test your knowledge
This is the perfect way to quickly learn tones. This method is also effective for being able to quickly read music and find the right fret on the guitar because musical notation is written in notes. If you've mastered the basics of "sight reading" (seeing scores and playing notes while reading), you're perfect for memorizing notes.
