Learning guitar involves understanding a few key numbering systems right from the start. Knowing these systems for your fingers, the strings, and especially the frets on your guitar will significantly speed up your learning process and make future lessons much easier to grasp. This guide will break down the essential numbering systems you need to know as a beginner guitarist, with a focus on understanding guitar frets.
First, let’s cover finger numbers for your fretting hand. To simplify instructions in lessons, diagrams, and tablature, each finger is assigned a number. Your index finger is designated as 1, your middle finger as 2, your ring finger as 3, and your pinky finger as 4. Familiarizing yourself with this finger numbering system is crucial when you begin to read chord charts, scale diagrams, guitar tabs (TABs), and even standard sheet music. These resources often rely on finger numbers to tell you exactly which finger to use.
Next, we should understand the numbering of the guitar strings. It might seem counterintuitive at first, but the string numbering starts with the thinnest string, not the thickest. The thinnest string, which is typically the high E string, is known as the 1st string. Moving thicker, the next string is the 2nd, then the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and finally, the thickest string, the low E string, is the 6th string. Always remember: thinnest to thickest corresponds to 1st string to 6th string.
Finally, let’s focus on the frets on your guitar. Frets are the metal strips embedded in the fretboard along the neck of the guitar. The fret numbering is straightforward: the fret closest to the headstock of the guitar is the 1st fret. The next metal strip moving towards the guitar body is the 2nd fret, followed by the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and so on, as you move further up the guitar neck. When a guitar instructor or a lesson tells you to place your finger on a specific fret, you need to quickly identify and locate that fret. Being able to accurately and quickly find any given fret on your guitar neck is a fundamental skill. Practice is key here. Try exercises like placing a finger on the 5th fret, then the 2nd fret, then the 7th fret, and so on, to build muscle memory and fretboard familiarity. For instance, if you see instructions to play something with your second finger on the 3rd fret of the 6th string, you should be able to execute that without hesitation. Use guitar TABs and chord diagrams to practice and solidify your understanding of finger, string, and fret numbering.
Understanding these basic numbering systems, especially how Frets On Guitar are numbered, is not just about memorization; it’s about building a foundational understanding that will streamline your guitar learning journey. By becoming comfortable with these systems now, you’ll pave the way for smoother progress in all your future guitar lessons and musical endeavors.
