Most guitars have 6 strings. Each string is given a number with the smallest string getting the smallest number. When holding a guitar usually the smallest string is on the bottom and is called the first string. The sixth string (the thickest string) is on the top. When you hit an open string (no fingers pressed down on the fretboard) a pitch specific to that string sounds. When tuned to "standard tuning" the pitches are as follows.
From the top string to the bottom string.
6th string = E
5th string = A
4th string = D
3rd string = G
2nd string = B
1st string = E
The 6th string is called the low E string because of it’s lower pitch and the 1st string is called high E string.
In last week’s post "12 Notes of the Music Alphabet" I introduced you to the music alphabet which is as follows.
A(A#,Bb)BC(C#,Db)D(D#,Eb)EF(F#,Gb)G(G#,Ab) A
Now that you know the names of the open strings AND the 12 notes of the music alphabet you can use these 2 pieces of information to figure out where every note is located on the fingerboard. It might take you a while at first but you will get faster at it and ultimately it will be second nature. In the beginning you might have to count up from the open string 1 fret at a time.
Example:
5th string (open) = A
5th string (1st fret) = A# or Bb (Remember A# and Bb are 2 different ways of saying the same note. Refer to last weeks lesson "12 Notes of the Music Alphabet".)
5th string (2nd fret) = B
5th string (3rd fret) = C
6th string (open) = E
6th string (1st fret) = F
6th string (2nd fret) = F# or Gb
2nd string (open) = B
2nd string (11th fret) = A# or Bb
Since there are only 12 notes in the music alphabet the names of the notes begin repeating at the 12th fret which is usually where the double dots on the fingerboard are located. Playing a note at the 12th fret physically cuts the string in half making it vibrate at double the frequency of the open string.
12th fret (1st string) = E
12th fret (2nd string) = B
12th fret (3rd string) = G
12th fret (4th string) = D
12th fret (5th string) = A
12th fret (6th string) = E