The Standard Guitar String Order and Why It Matters
The six strings on a standard guitar, from thickest to thinnest, are E, A, D, G, B, E. Memorizing this order is the foundation for everything else on the instrument—tuning, reading chord diagrams, understanding fretboard layout, and communicating with other musicians. Without this sequence locked in, you'll waste time counting strings every time you pick up the guitar.
The reason this matters is practical: when someone says "play the A string" or a chord diagram shows a dot on the third string, you need to know when ready which one they mean. The faster you can recall the string order without thinking, the faster you can focus on actually playing.
Key Takeaways
- The six strings from thickest to thinnest are E, A, D, G, B, E—a pattern you can lock in with a memorable phrase.
- The most effective method is to repeat the sequence out loud while pointing to each string, multiple times a day for one week.
- Once you know the order, practice identifying random strings by number and name until the connection becomes automatic.
- Tuning your guitar by ear while saying the string names aloud reinforces the order through repetition and real playing.
Use a Memory Phrase to Lock in the Sequence
The most common memory aid is the phrase "Eddie Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddie"—the first letter of each word matches E, A, D, G, B, E. This phrase is silly enough to stick in your memory, and it's been used by guitarists for decades.
If that phrase doesn't appeal to you, you can create your own. The only requirement is that it starts with E, A, D, G, B, E in that exact order. Some players use "Eddie's Apple Did Get Bitten, Eddie" or "Eat All Day, Get Big Energy." The phrase doesn't have to make sense—in fact, the weirder it is, the better you'll remember it.
Write your chosen phrase on a sticky note and place it on your guitar headstock or on the wall above where you practice. You'll see it dozens of times a day, and the repetition will cement it into memory within a few days.
Point and Say the Strings Out Loud
Memory phrases work, but they're not enough on their own. You need to connect the name to the actual string on your guitar. The fastest way to do this is to pick up your guitar, point to the thickest string, and say "E" out loud. Then move to the next string and say "A." Continue all the way to the thinnest string and back again.
Do this five times in a row, once in the morning and once in the evening, for seven days. The combination of seeing the string, touching it, and hearing yourself say the name creates three memory pathways instead of one. After a week of this routine, you'll be able to name any string without hesitation.
The key is to do this slowly and deliberately. Don't rush through it. Spend two seconds on each string, really look at it, and say the name clearly. This takes about one minute per session, so the time investment is minimal.
Practice Identifying Strings by Number
Once you can recite the string order from memory, the next step is to recognize strings by their position number. Ask yourself: "What is the 4th string?" and answer "G" without looking. Then pick up your guitar and verify you're right by pointing to it.
Start with the straightforward ones: the 1st string (E) and the 6th string (E). Then move to the middle strings. Do this for five minutes a day, mixing up the order of the questions. "What's the 2nd string?" "What's the 5th string?" "What's the 3rd string?"
After a few days of this, you'll notice you no longer have to mentally recite the whole sequence to answer. The answer comes automatically. That's the moment you know it's truly memorized.
Tune Your Guitar While Saying the String Names
Tuning is something you do every time you play, so it's an ideal opportunity to reinforce string names. Whether you use a tuner, tune by ear, or use a tuning app, say the string name out loud as you tune each one: "Tuning the low E... tuning the A... tuning the D..." and so on.
This combines repetition with real playing, which makes the memory stick faster than isolated drills. You're not just saying the names in a vacuum—you're using them in context, the way you'll use them when you're actually playing music.
If you tune your guitar once a day, you'll say the string names six times daily. Over a week, that's 42 repetitions tied to an action you're already doing. This is one of the most efficient ways to cement the order into long-term memory.
Use Flashcards or a straightforward Quiz
Create five index cards, each with a number from 1 to 6 on one side and the corresponding string name on the other. Shuffle the cards and quiz yourself: look at the number, say the string name out loud, then flip the card to check. Do this for five minutes, three times a week.
Alternatively, use a free online flashcard tool like Quizlet and search for "guitar strings." You'll find decks already made by other guitarists. Spend five minutes a day running through them. The spaced repetition built into flashcard apps is scientifically proven to move information into long-term memory faster than cramming.
Test Yourself Under Real Conditions
Once you think you've memorized the strings, test yourself in the way you'll actually use the knowledge. Have someone point to a string on your guitar and ask you to name it. Or look at a chord diagram and identify which strings are being played without counting. Or watch a guitar tutorial and follow along without pausing to figure out which string the instructor means.
If you can do these things without hesitation, the strings are truly memorized. If you still have to count or think about it, go back to the pointing-and-saying exercise for another few days. There's no shortcut to automaticity—it comes from repetition, but the repetition doesn't have to be boring.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it usually take to memorize the guitar strings?
Most people lock in the string order within one to two weeks of daily practice. If you do the pointing-and-saying exercise twice a day and tune your guitar daily, you'll likely know them within five to seven days. The speed depends on how often you practice and how many times you repeat the sequence.
Do I need to memorize the strings if I use a tuner?
A tuner tells you when a string is in tune, but it doesn't tell you which string you're looking at. You still need to know the order to communicate with other musicians, read chord diagrams, and understand guitar lessons. Memorizing the strings is a foundation skill, not optional.
Why are there two E strings?
The 1st string (thinnest) and the 6th string (thickest) are both E, but they're two octaves apart. This is by design—it gives the guitar a wide range of notes while keeping the strings in a playable tension. You'll learn to tell them apart by feel and sound once you've played for a while.
What if I keep forgetting the strings after a week?
You're probably not repeating enough. Increase your practice to three times a day, and make sure you're saying the names out loud while pointing to the actual strings. Silent repetition is much less effective than saying the words aloud. Also, tune your guitar more often—every time you tune is a chance to reinforce the order.
Should I memorize the strings in reverse order too?
It's not necessary. Once you know E, A, D, G, B, E forward, you can work backward if you need to. But most guitarists only memorize the forward order, and that's enough to play well. Focus on forward first, and reverse will come naturally with time.