Most guitars are equipped with six strings, a design that has evolved over centuries from earlier stringed instruments. The journey to the modern six-string guitar involved significant experimentation and refinement, particularly in tuning. By the 16th century, a tuning system similar to the top five strings of today’s guitar (ADGBE) was already in common use. Further advancements in instrument design and construction during the mid-1800s led to the emergence of the six-string classical guitar we recognize today, complete with the now-standard EADGBE tuning.
But why this specific tuning? The EADGBE standard is not arbitrary; it’s the result of centuries of practical experience. This tuning represents a balance that makes playing chords and melodies on the guitar as comfortable and intuitive as possible for musicians.
Finding the Right Balance in Guitar Tuning
Standard guitar tuning is a carefully considered system that balances several key aspects of playability:
- Chord Complexity: It allows for a wide range of chords to be played without excessive finger stretching.
- Melodic Range: Melodies can be easily navigated across the fretboard without requiring awkward hand positions.
- Open String Versatility: The tuning maximizes the use of open strings in various keys and chords, adding resonance and ease to playing.
- String Tension and Flexibility: It ensures comfortable string bending and manageable tension on the guitar’s neck and body.
If the intervals between guitar strings were too wide, forming chords would become cumbersome. Conversely, tighter intervals might simplify melody playing but would make basic chords more challenging to finger. The EADGBE tuning strikes a sweet spot, offering a versatile and player-friendly setup.
Guitar String Letters: Acronyms to Help You Memorize
Each of the six guitar strings has a letter name. When discussing guitar strings, we often refer to them in descending order of thickness, with the thickest string being the 6th string and the thinnest being the 1st string. In standard tuning, these strings, from thickest to thinnest, are tuned to the notes E, A, D, G, B, and E. The 6th string, tuned to E, is often called the “low E string” because it produces the lowest pitch on the guitar in standard tuning. The 1st string, also tuned to E, is known as the “high E string.”
A popular and effective method for memorizing these Guitar String Letters is using acronyms. These memory aids create memorable phrases where each word’s first letter corresponds to the guitar string names.
Starting from the thinnest string (1st string) and moving to the thickest (6th string), the order is E-B-G-D-A-E. Here are a few example acronyms:
- Elephants Buy Green Donuts At Easter
- Every Boy Goes Dancing After Evening
Alternatively, starting from the thickest string (6th string) to the thinnest (1st string), the order is E-A-D-G-B-E. Here are acronyms for this direction:
- Eat All Day Get Big Easily
- Eddie Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddie
The best way to make these string letters stick in your mind is to create your own acronym! The more personalized and even quirky your phrase is, the easier it will be to recall.
Connecting Guitar String Letters to the Fretboard
The fretboard, or fingerboard, is the playing surface on the guitar neck where you press down the strings to change their pitch. It’s a long piece of material, usually wood, attached to the neck, with metal frets dividing it into semitone intervals. Understanding the guitar string letters is the first step to navigating the fretboard effectively.
Knowing the letter names of your open strings (EADGBE) allows you to start learning the notes at each fret. As you move up the fretboard, the pitch of each string increases. Learning where these lettered strings are located on the fretboard unlocks the ability to play scales, chords, and melodies across the entire guitar.
To further develop your guitar skills, explore resources like guitar chords video library. And for a structured learning experience, consider trying Fender Play for free.
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