The standard guitar string order, from thickest to thinnest

The six strings on a standard guitar, from the thickest string closest to your face down to the thinnest string farthest from you, are E, A, D, G, B, E. The thickest string is E (called the low E or sixth string), and the thinnest is also E (called the high E or first string). Learning this order is the foundation of playing guitar because it tells you which string to pluck for any note or chord.

Many guitarists use a memory phrase to lock in this sequence. The most common one is "Eddie Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddie." The first letter of each word matches the string names in order: E-A-D-G-B-E. You can also make up your own phrase using words that start with those letters—whatever sticks in your memory works just as well.

Key Takeaways

  • The six strings in order are E, A, D, G, B, E, starting with the thickest string and moving to the thinnest.
  • A memory phrase like "Eddie Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddie" helps you recall the string order without thinking about it.
  • Practicing the string names while you play—saying them out loud as you pluck each string—builds the pattern into muscle memory faster than reading alone.
  • The two E strings are different pitches because one is much thicker and looser than the other, even though they have the same letter name.

Why the string order matters for learning guitar

Knowing the string names lets you read chord diagrams, understand tablature, and communicate with other musicians. When someone says "play a D chord on the A string," you need to know which physical string they mean. Without this knowledge, you will waste time hunting for the right string instead of building your playing skills.

The string order also reflects how a guitar is tuned. Each string is tuned to a specific pitch, and those pitches follow a pattern. Once you know the names, you can understand why certain strings sound good together and why some finger positions create chords. This knowledge turns random finger movements into intentional music-making.

Using a memory phrase that works for you

"Eddie Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddie" is the most popular memory phrase, but it only works if you actually remember it. If that phrase does not stick in your head, spend two minutes creating your own. Pick any six words that start with E, A, D, G, B, E in that order. The phrase does not have to make sense—it just has to be something you will think of when you pick up the guitar.

Some players use "Eat All Day, Get Big Energy" or "Every Apple Does Good, But Eat" or completely silly phrases. The sillier or more personal the phrase, the faster it usually sticks. Write your phrase down and keep it near your guitar for the first week or two. Once you have said it out loud ten or fifteen times while looking at the strings, it will become automatic.

Saying the string names while you play

The fastest way to move from memorizing the phrase to actually knowing the strings is to say the name out loud every time you pluck a string. Pick up your guitar, pluck the thickest string, and say "E." Pluck the next string and say "A." Continue down to the thinnest string. Do this five times in a row, slowly. Your brain will start connecting the physical string to its name.

After a few days of this, stop saying the names and just pluck each string in order while thinking the name silently. Then try the reverse: say the name and see if you can pluck the right string without looking. This active practice—where you are doing something with the information, not just reading it—is what builds real memory. Passive reading of a chart will fade within hours. Active practice sticks within days.

Understanding why there are two E strings

New guitarists often get confused by the fact that the thickest and thinnest strings are both called E. They are both E because they are tuned to the same note, just in different octaves. The low E (sixth string) is much thicker and looser, so it vibrates slowly and produces a deep sound. The high E (first string) is much thinner and tighter, so it vibrates faster and produces a high sound.

Think of it like a piano: a piano has many C keys, but they all sound like C—just higher or lower. The same is true on guitar. Both E strings are the note E, but one is low and one is high. Once you understand this, the string order makes more sense, and you will stop second-guessing yourself when you see two E names in the sequence.

Checking your memory with a straightforward drill

Once you think you know the strings, test yourself without looking at a chart. Close your eyes, pick a random string, and say its name before you pluck it. If you get it right, pluck it and listen to confirm. If you get it wrong, look at the string, say the correct name, and pluck it. Repeat this drill for two minutes every time you pick up the guitar for the first two weeks.

This drill works because it forces your brain to retrieve the information from memory instead of reading it. Retrieval practice—making yourself remember something rather than just reviewing it—is the most powerful way to lock information into long-term memory. After two weeks of this, you will not need to think about string names anymore. They will be as automatic as knowing your own phone number.

Moving from string names to playing

Once the string names are solid, you can start learning where specific notes live on each string. A note chart shows you which fret on which string produces which pitch. Knowing the string names means you can read that chart without confusion. You can also start learning chord shapes, which are defined by which strings you pluck and which frets you press.

The string names are not the end goal—they are the tool that makes everything else possible. Spend a few days drilling them until they feel automatic, then move forward. You will use this knowledge every single time you play, so the time you invest now pays off when ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I keep forgetting the string order?

You are probably trying to memorize it by reading instead of by doing. Stop reading and start saying the names out loud while you pluck each string. Do this five times a day for three days, and the order will stick. The act of speaking and hearing the names while physically touching the strings creates multiple memory connections at once.

Do I need to know the string names to play songs?

You can play some songs by following chord diagrams or tablature without knowing the names, but you will hit a wall quickly. Once you want to understand what you are playing, communicate with other musicians, or learn new songs faster, the string names become essential. Learning them early saves you time later.

Is the string order the same on every guitar?

Standard tuning on a six-string guitar is always E-A-D-G-B-E. Some players tune their guitars differently for specific songs or styles, but this is called alternate tuning, and you would be told about it. For learning, assume standard tuning unless you are told otherwise.

How long does it take to remember the strings automatically?

Most people move from "I have to think about it" to "it is automatic" in about two weeks of regular practice. If you drill the names five times every time you pick up the guitar, you will know them by heart within days. The key is repetition with active recall—saying the names out loud and testing yourself, not just reading them.

Should I learn the string names before or after I learn chords?

Learn the string names first. They take five minutes to memorize and will make learning chords much faster. Chord diagrams use the string names to show you where to place your fingers, so knowing the names means you can read a diagram when ready instead of having to count strings every time.