Guitar notes can seem daunting when you’re first starting out. You might be wondering, “What even are guitar notes, and why do I need to learn them?” Think of guitar notes as the alphabet of music for your guitar. Just like letters form words, guitar notes form chords, melodies, and everything else that makes music.
Understanding guitar notes opens up a whole new world. It helps you learn new songs faster, master different guitar techniques, and communicate with other musicians. This guide will break down guitar notes into easy-to-understand steps, so you can start playing with confidence.
In this beginner-friendly guide, we’ll cover:
- The difference between guitar notes and chords (it’s simpler than you think!)
- The musical alphabet specifically for guitar (no prior music theory needed)
- Sharps and flats explained in an easy way
- Simple music theory concepts to make learning notes easier
- Practical tips to quickly learn and apply guitar notes
Don’t worry, we’ll keep the “music theory” light and focused on what’s essential for playing guitar. If you’re looking for a practical approach to learning guitar, understanding Easy Guitar Notes is a fantastic place to begin.
And before we dive in, remember to grab our Free Video & PDF Guide – “Find Any Note Without Memorizing the Fretboard” for an even easier way to visualize and learn notes!
Understanding Guitar String Notes in Standard Tuning
First things first, let’s get familiar with the open string notes. These are the foundation for learning all other guitar notes. Every guitar, regardless of brand or type, has 6 strings in standard tuning, and they are always the same notes, from thickest to thinnest: E, A, D, G, B, E.
Think of these open strings as your starting points. Knowing them is crucial before you can learn notes up and down the fretboard.
To help you remember these string names, try using a mnemonic phrase. A popular one is: Eddie Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddie. Find one that’s easy for you to recall!
Remember, the thickest string is the lowest in pitch (Low E), and the thinnest is the highest (High E). While there are alternate tunings, standard tuning is where most beginners start, and it’s perfect for learning easy guitar notes.
Meet Your Six Strings: Names and Notes
Let’s break down each string individually:
- Low E String: The thickest string, producing the lowest sound. We call it the low E string.
- A String: The next string up from the low E, tuned to an A note. This is the A string.
- D String: Following the A string, this string is tuned to a D note, making it the D string.
- G String: Next is the G string, tuned to a G note.
- B String: The second thinnest string, tuned to a B note, hence the B string.
- High E String: The thinnest string, tuned to a high E note, two octaves higher than the low E string. We call this the high E string.
guitar string names diagram
Image: Diagram of guitar string names, from Low E to High E.
Mnemonic Devices: Your Memory Tool for Guitar String Notes
The easiest way to memorize the guitar string notes is by using a mnemonic device. It’s a simple trick to associate the notes with a memorable phrase. As mentioned, Eddie Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddie is a common one.
Feel free to create your own! The sillier and more personal, the better you’ll remember it. Think of something that resonates with you and helps you quickly recall E-A-D-G-B-E from the thickest to thinnest string.
Important Note: These string notes are universal for all guitars in standard tuning – acoustic, electric, classical, you name it!
Once you’ve got the string names down, you’re ready to use the trick in our Bonus Guide: Free Video & PDF Guide – “Find Any Note Without Memorizing the Fretboard” to locate any note on the guitar.
Guitar Notes vs. Guitar Chords: What’s the Difference?
Let’s simplify music theory for a moment. Think of music like building with LEGOs.
- A guitar note is like a single LEGO brick. It’s the smallest building block of music – a single pitch.
- A guitar chord is like a structure built with multiple LEGO bricks connected together. It’s a combination of several notes played simultaneously to create a richer sound.
So, chords are essentially groups of notes played together.
Sound Comparison: Notes vs. Chords
Just as a single LEGO brick is different from a LEGO house, guitar notes and chords sound distinct.
Guitar Notes Sound
Guitar notes are individual sounds. When you play one string at a time, you’re playing single notes. Melodies are made up of sequences of single guitar notes.
Here’s an example of guitar tablature (tab) showing single notes:
e|-----------------|
B|-----------------|
G|-----------------|
D|-----------------|
A|-5-5-5-5-3-3-3-3-|
E|-----------------|In this tab, you see numbers on only one line at a time, indicating single notes being played sequentially. If you need help understanding tabs, check out resources on how to read guitar tabs and guitar tab symbols. You can also find beginner acoustic guitar tabs to practice with.
Here’s a visual representation of guitar notes across the fretboard:
guitar notes on a fretboard
Chords Sound
Chords are formed when you play multiple notes at once. They create a fuller, richer sound than single notes. There are many types of chords, from basic chords to power chords. You can learn more about chord diagrams if you’re unfamiliar with them.
For example, try playing a D chord:
To play a D chord, you press down multiple strings and strum them all together. This simultaneous playing of notes creates the chord.
Chords are harmonically richer and are the foundation of rhythm guitar playing and song accompaniment. To start learning, explore the essential guitar chords for beginners.
Chords or Notes First? Beginner’s Dilemma
There’s no right or wrong answer to whether you should learn chords or notes first. It really depends on your goals and learning style.
However, for beginners…
Learning guitar can be overwhelming. While understanding guitar notes is valuable in the long run, starting with chords can be more immediately rewarding and motivating.
Our Recommendation: Start with Chords!
Instead of getting bogged down trying to memorize every note on the fretboard immediately, begin by learning a few basic guitar chords. This allows you to play simple songs quickly, which is incredibly encouraging.
For instance, learn power chords to play your first song like “Louie Louie.”
Later, as you progress and want to explore lead guitar, solos, or a deeper understanding of music theory, you can then focus more on individual guitar notes. If you’re interested in soloing, check out resources on how to solo on guitar. You can also explore fingerpicking and different strumming patterns to expand your playing.
The Power of Chords for Beginners
While guitar notes are essential for understanding music theory, chords offer a more practical and faster route to playing music, especially for beginners. Here’s why chords are beneficial initially:
- Song Accessibility: Countless songs are built on just a few basic chords. You can play thousands of songs knowing just three or four chords. Melodies based on single notes rarely have that simplicity.
- Immediate Gratification: Playing chords allows you to play along with songs quickly, providing a sense of accomplishment and motivation.
- Finger Strength: Forming chords builds finger strength and coordination, essential for all aspects of guitar playing.
- Rhythm and Timing: Learning chords naturally involves rhythm and timing, core musical skills.
Once you’re comfortable playing chords, understanding rhythm, and basic musical structure, you can then delve deeper into music theory and scales, including a more detailed study of guitar notes.
Bonus Reminder: Don’t forget to download your Free Video & PDF Guide – “Find Any Note Without Memorizing the Fretboard” for a visual learning aid!
Guitar Notes and the Fretboard: Mapping it Out
Let’s explore how guitar notes are organized on the fretboard. While you don’t need to memorize every note instantly, understanding the layout will significantly enhance your guitar knowledge.
If you’re ready to learn the musical alphabet and how it applies to the guitar fretboard, let’s continue!
The Musical Alphabet for Guitarists
Good news! The musical alphabet used for guitar is the same as for all other instruments – piano, violin, saxophone, etc. It’s a universal language for musicians. And even better news? It’s short and sweet, with only 12 notes, unlike the 26 letters in the English alphabet!
Here’s the musical alphabet with sharps:
A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#, A
And here it is with flats:
A, Bb, B, C, Db, D, Eb, E, F, Gb, G, Ab, A
What are sharps (#) and flats (b)?
- Sharp (#): A sharp (♯) raises a note by a half step. A# is pronounced “A sharp.”
- Flat (b): A flat (♭) lowers a note by a half step. Bb is pronounced “B flat.”
Sharps and Flats: Two Names, Same Note
Sharps and flats can represent the same pitch, just named differently depending on the musical context.
In the musical alphabet examples above, notice how A# and Bb are listed as alternatives in the same position. This means A sharp and B flat are the exact same note – just different names for it.
Think of it like synonyms. “Couch” and “sofa” are different words for the same thing. Similarly, A# and Bb are different names for the same guitar note.
Here are some examples of notes that can be named as either a sharp or a flat:
- C# is the same note as Db
- D# is the same note as Eb
- F# is the same note as Gb
- G# is the same note as Ab
While both notations are correct, you’ll often see the musical alphabet written primarily with sharps or primarily with flats, depending on the musical key.
Natural Notes: No Sharps or Flats Needed
Looking at the musical alphabet again:
A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#, A
Notice that there are no sharps or flats between B and C, and between E and F. These are natural half-steps in the musical alphabet.
- No note between B and C: The note immediately after B is C.
- No note between E and F: The note immediately after E is F.
- B# (B sharp) is essentially C, and Cb (C flat) is essentially B. Similarly, E# (E sharp) is F and Fb (F flat) is E. We typically don’t use B#, Cb, E#, or Fb.
These are the only places in the musical alphabet where there isn’t a sharp or flat note in between.
The Fretboard as a Musical Map
Each fret on your guitar represents a step up in the musical alphabet. As you move up one fret towards the guitar body, you’re moving up by one half-step in pitch.
fret numbers on guitar neck
Think of the open string as fret 0. Starting from there, each fret increases the note’s pitch.
For example, if you play the open low E string (fret 0), and then press down at the 1st fret of the same string, you’ll play an F note. Remember, there’s no sharp or flat between E and F!
As you continue moving up frets on the low E string, the pitch gets higher, following the musical alphabet:
- E (Open String)
- F (1st Fret)
- F# (2nd Fret)
- G (3rd Fret)
- G# (4th Fret)
- A (5th Fret)
- A# (6th Fret)
- B (7th Fret)
- C (8th Fret)
- C# (9th Fret)
- D (10th Fret)
- D# (11th Fret)
- E (12th Fret)
By the 12th fret, you’ve played a full octave – all 12 notes of the musical alphabet, bringing you back to E, but an octave higher.
Going down the fretboard (towards the headstock) uses flats. Descending from the 12th fret on the E string:
- E (12th Fret)
- Eb (11th Fret)
- D (10th Fret)
- Db (9th Fret)
- C (8th Fret)
- B (7th Fret)
- Bb (6th Fret)
- A (5th Fret)
- Ab (4th Fret)
- G (3rd Fret)
- Gb (2nd Fret)
- F (1st Fret)
- E (Open String)
Descending can be trickier because we’re less used to reciting the musical alphabet backward! Practice going back and forth from A to G in both directions to improve your fretboard navigation.
To solidify your understanding, try saying the note names out loud as you play them on the fretboard. For instance, play the 5th fret of the low E string and say “A” aloud.
Fret Markers: Your Fretboard Landmarks
Finding notes higher up the fretboard can initially feel confusing. That’s where fret markers come in handy. These are the dots or inlays you see on the guitar neck, acting as visual guides.
Fret markers are typically located at the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 12th frets. The 12th fret often has a double marker.
If you lose your way on the fretboard, use these markers as reference points to quickly locate the notes you need.
Naturals, Sharps, and Flats: Deeper Dive
Guitar notes without sharps or flats are called natural notes. These are A, B, C, D, E, F, and G.
They are “natural” because they are the base notes from which sharps and flats are derived. Understanding the intervals between natural notes is key to navigating the fretboard.
- Whole Steps: There are two frets (a whole step) between these natural notes: A and B, C and D, D and E, F and G, and G and A. A whole step is skipping one fret.
- Half Steps: There is one fret (a half step) between these natural notes: B and C, and E and F. A half step is moving to the very next fret.
Finding Natural Notes on the Low E String
Let’s practice finding natural notes on the low E string (thickest string). We know the open low E string is E, a natural note.
Remember the half-step rule: there’s a half step between E and F.
- To find the next natural note (F) after E, move up a half step (one fret).
- F is located at the 1st fret of the low E string.
Continuing up the low E string, remember the whole and half step intervals to find the next natural notes: G, A, B, C, D, and back to E (at the 12th fret, which is an octave higher).
Practice finding all natural notes on the low E string, then try it on the A, D, G, and B strings. You’ll notice the positions of natural notes change depending on the string.
Sharps and Flats: Filling in the Gaps
Now that you understand natural notes, think of sharps and flats as the notes in between the natural notes (where there’s a whole step).
Remember the whole step between A and B? The note halfway between A and B (one fret up from A) is either A# (A sharp) or Bb (B flat).
Sharps and flats “fill in” the gaps between natural notes that are a whole step apart.
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Guitar Notes Exercise: E String Exploration
Let’s solidify your understanding of natural notes, sharps, and flats with a simple exercise on the E string. This mental walkthrough will help you visualize the relationships between notes.
E to F: Half-Step Movement
- There is no sharp or flat between E and F; they are natural notes separated by a half step.
- Moving from E to F is moving just one fret up from any E note. For example, from the open low E string (E) to the 1st fret (F).
F to G: Whole-Step Movement
- There is a whole step between F and G.
- Moving from F to G is moving two frets up from any F note. For example, from the 1st fret (F) to the 3rd fret (G) on the low E string.
These are just two examples. Continue exploring the relationships between other notes on the E string and then across all strings to deepen your fretboard knowledge.
Invest 10 Minutes Daily for Guitar Progress
Understanding guitar notes is a significant step in your guitar journey. If you’re ready to accelerate your learning, remember the workshop we mentioned earlier.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to streamline your guitar learning!
Join the Free Guitar Reboot Workshop
Watch this FREE guitar class and discover three secrets to learn guitar faster with just 10 minutes of practice each day.
