The six strings on a standard guitar, from thickest to thinnest, are E, A, D, G, B, and E

The thickest string is low E. Moving toward the thinner strings, you encounter A, then D, then G, then B, then high E at the very top. This order is called standard tuning, and it is the tuning almost every guitarist learns first. If you hold the guitar in playing position, the low E string is closest to your face, and the high E string is closest to the floor.

A straightforward way to remember the order is the phrase "Eddie Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddie" — the first letter of each word matches the string notes in order from thickest to thinnest. Some people use "Eddie Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddie" or "Elephants And Donkeys Grow Big Ears." Pick whichever phrase sticks in your memory.

Each string produces a different pitch because of its thickness and the tension applied when you tune it. Thicker strings vibrate more slowly and produce lower notes. Thinner strings vibrate faster and produce higher notes. The tuning pegs at the head of the guitar tighten or loosen each string to set it to the correct pitch.

Key Takeaways

  • Standard tuning from thickest to thinnest string is E, A, D, G, B, E — remember it with "Eddie Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddie."
  • The low E string (thickest) is the deepest note on the guitar, and the high E string (thinnest) is the highest.
  • Each string can play multiple notes by pressing down on different frets, but the open string (unfretted) always produces the note listed above.
  • Tuning pegs adjust the tension on each string to raise or lower its pitch until it matches the correct note.
  • If your guitar does not sound right when you play open strings, the tuning is off and needs adjustment.

How to identify each string by ear

If you have a tuner, use it — that is the fastest and most accurate way. But if you want to train your ear, start with the low E string. It is the thickest and produces the lowest, deepest sound. Play it and listen to how low it sounds compared to the others.

The A string is next. It is noticeably higher than low E but still in the lower range. The D string is higher still. The G string sits in the middle of the guitar's range. The B string is higher and thinner-sounding. The high E string is the thinnest and produces the highest pitch — it sounds bright and thin compared to the low E.

A reference tool helps: if you have a piano, keyboard, or a tuning app on your phone, play each note and listen to it, then pluck the matching string on your guitar. Your ear will start to recognize the difference between each string's natural pitch after a few days of practice.

What happens when you press down on a fret

Each string can play many different notes, not just the open string note. When you press a string down against a fret (the metal strip on the neck), you shorten the vibrating length of the string. A shorter string vibrates faster and produces a higher note.

For example, the low E string produces E when open. If you press it down on the first fret, it produces F. The second fret produces F-sharp. The third fret produces G. Each fret raises the pitch by one semitone (the smallest interval in Western music). This pattern is the same on every string.

This is why you can play the same note on different strings. The note G can be played on the low E string at the third fret, or on the D string at the fifth fret, or on the high E string at the third fret. Guitarists use this flexibility to play melodies and chords in different positions on the neck.

The difference between standard tuning and other tunings

Standard tuning (E, A, D, G, B, E) is the default, but guitarists sometimes use other tunings for different sounds or styles. Drop D tuning lowers the low E string to D, making it E, A, D, G, B, E become D, A, D, G, B, E. This is common in rock and metal because the lower note gives a heavier sound.

Open G tuning changes the strings to D, G, D, G, B, D, which makes it straightforward to play a G major chord by strumming all open strings. Blues and folk musicians often use this tuning. Half-step down tuning lowers every string by one semitone, so E becomes D-sharp, A becomes G-sharp, and so on. This is popular in rock because it gives the guitar a slightly darker tone and makes bending strings easier.

If you are learning guitar, stick with standard tuning until you are comfortable with the basics. Other tunings are useful once you understand how the neck works and why you might want a different sound.

How to tune your guitar to the correct notes

A digital tuner is the easiest method. Clip it to the headstock of your guitar, pluck each string one at a time, and adjust the tuning pegs until the tuner shows the correct note. Most tuners light up green when the string is in tune.

If you do not have a tuner, you can tune by ear using a reference note. If you have a piano or keyboard, play the low E note and adjust your low E string until it matches. Then use that string to tune the others. Press the low E string at the fifth fret (which produces A) and tune the A string to match that pitch. Press the A string at the fifth fret (which produces D) and tune the D string to match. Continue this pattern: D string at the fifth fret gives G, G string at the fifth fret gives B, and B string at the fourth fret gives E.

Tuning by ear takes practice, but it trains your ear to recognize when strings are in tune. Many guitarists use a tuner for speed and accuracy, especially before performances or recording.

Why standard tuning matters for learning

Standard tuning is universal. Every guitar teacher, every chord chart, every song tutorial assumes you are using standard tuning. If your strings are tuned to something else, the chords and notes will not match what you see in lessons or online videos.

Learning standard tuning also teaches you the layout of the fretboard. Once you know where each note is on one string, you can find the same note on other strings. This knowledge carries over to any other tuning you might use later. It is the foundation that makes everything else on the guitar easier to understand.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I tune my guitar and it sounds wrong?

Check that you are tuning to the correct notes in the correct order: E, A, D, G, B, E from thickest to thinnest. A common mistake is tuning the strings in the wrong order or confusing which string is which. Use a tuner to confirm each string is at the right pitch. If the tuner says the string is in tune but it sounds off compared to other strings, the tuner may be broken or you may be plucking the wrong string.

Can I tune my guitar without a tuner?

Yes. If you have a reference note from a piano, keyboard, or tuning app, you can tune by ear. Tune the low E string first to match your reference, then use the fifth-fret method described above to tune the remaining strings. It takes longer than using a tuner and requires a trained ear, but it works.

Do all guitars use standard tuning?

Most acoustic and electric guitars use standard tuning by default. Some musicians tune differently for specific songs or styles, but standard tuning is the starting point. Twelve-string guitars, bass guitars, and other instruments have different standard tunings suited to their size and purpose.

Why is there a high E and a low E?

The guitar has six strings, and the lowest and highest notes happen to both be E. The low E is four octaves lower than the high E — they are the same note name but at very different pitches. This design gives the guitar a wide range of notes while keeping the strings in a practical order.

How often should I tune my guitar?

Tune before every practice session or performance. New strings go out of tune quickly as they settle, so new guitars may need tuning multiple times a day for the first week. Older strings hold their tune better but still drift over time due to temperature changes, humidity, and the wear from playing.