The Six Open Strings, From Thickest to Thinnest

On a standard guitar tuned to concert pitch, the six strings from thickest to thinnest are E, A, D, G, B, E. The thickest string is E (the low E or 6th string), and the thinnest is also E (the high E or 1st string), but two octaves higher. When you pluck any string without pressing down on the fretboard, you hear that string's open note.

A useful memory trick is the phrase "Eddie Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddie" — the first letter of each word matches the string order from 6th to 1st. Some players prefer "Elephants And Donkeys Grow Big Ears." Pick whichever one sticks with you.

These note names repeat across the fretboard in a pattern. Once you know the open strings, you can find any note by counting up the frets. Each fret raises the pitch by one semitone (the smallest musical interval on a guitar).

Key Takeaways

  • The six open strings in standard tuning are E, A, D, G, B, E from thickest to thinnest.
  • The lowest E and highest E are the same note but two octaves apart, which is why both strings share the same letter name.
  • Memorizing the open strings is the foundation for finding any note on the fretboard without looking at a chart.
  • Each fret moves you up one semitone, so counting frets from an open string tells you what note you are playing.

How the Musical Alphabet Works on Guitar

The musical alphabet has only seven letters: A, B, C, D, E, F, G. After G, it starts over at A. Between most of these letters is a semitone called a sharp (♯) or flat (♭) — the same note with two names depending on which direction you are coming from. The exception is between B and C, and between E and F, where there is no sharp or flat.

On the guitar, each fret is one semitone. So if you play the open low E string and then move up one fret, you play F. Move up another fret and you play F♯ (F sharp). The pattern continues: G, G♯, A, A♯, B, C, C♯, D, D♯, E. Then it repeats at a higher pitch.

This is why knowing the open strings matters: once you know E, A, D, G, B, E, you can count frets to find any other note. The pattern is the same on every string.

Finding Notes on Each String

Start with the low E string (the thickest one). If you place your finger on the first fret, you play F. The second fret is F♯. The third fret is G. Keep counting and you will reach A at the fifth fret. This is the same pitch as the open A string (the second string), which is a useful checkpoint.

The same counting method works on every string. On the A string, the fifth fret is D — the same pitch as the open D string. On the D string, the fifth fret is G — the same pitch as the open G string. This pattern of "the fifth fret of one string matches the open note of the next string" is true all the way up, except between the G and B strings, where it is the fourth fret instead.

A fretboard diagram or chart can show you the layout visually, but the counting method is faster once you practice it. Many players learn to recognize the feel of common positions without thinking about note names at all.

Why Standard Tuning Uses These Specific Notes

Standard tuning was not chosen at random. The interval pattern (E to A is a perfect fourth, A to D is a perfect fourth, D to G is a perfect fourth, G to B is a major third, B to E is a perfect fourth) balances playability with the physics of the strings themselves. Thicker strings need lower notes to vibrate properly, and thinner strings naturally produce higher pitches.

This tuning also lets you play common chord shapes across multiple strings efficiently. Many beginner chords use the same finger positions on different strings because of how these intervals line up. If the strings were tuned differently, the same shapes would produce different chords or no chords at all.

Some players use alternate tunings (like drop D, open G, or DADGAD) for specific sounds or styles, but standard tuning remains the default because it works well for most music and is what other players expect when they hear "guitar."

Using a Tuner to Check Your Strings

A digital tuner shows you the note name and tells you whether each string is sharp (too high) or flat (too low). Clip-on tuners are inexpensive and work by sensing vibration. Plug-in tuners work through a cable. Smartphone apps also exist, though they are less reliable in noisy rooms.

To tune, pluck the low E string and watch the tuner display. Turn the tuning peg (the machine head at the top of the headstock) until the tuner shows E and the needle or indicator is centered. Repeat for each string in order: A, D, G, B, E. Tune the thicker strings first because they take longer to settle at the correct pitch.

If a string is very flat, turn the tuning peg toward you (or away, depending on which side it is on). If it is sharp, turn it the opposite direction. Move slowly — it is straightforward to overshoot. A tuner removes guesswork and trains your ear at the same time.

Octaves: Why Two Strings Share the Name E

An octave is the interval between a note and the same note at double (or half) the frequency. The low E string vibrates at 82.4 Hz, and the high E string vibrates at 329.6 Hz — exactly four times faster. To your ear, they sound like the same note, just higher or lower. That is why both are called E.

This matters because it means the fretboard repeats. If you know where E is on the low string, you know that the high string (when open) is the same note at a higher pitch. The same applies to every note: find it on one string, and you can find it on another string at a different octave.

Many melodies can be played on different strings starting from different frets. A skilled player can move a phrase up or down the neck by shifting to a different string, which is useful for reaching notes that would be too far away on a single string.

Common Mistakes When Learning String Notes

The biggest mistake is trying to memorize every fret on every string at once. Instead, learn the open strings first, then learn to count frets. The counting method is faster and more reliable than memorizing a chart.

Another common error is confusing sharp and flat. Remember: sharp (♯) means one semitone higher, flat (♭) means one semitone lower. F♯ and G♭ are the same pitch — just two names for it. You will encounter both names depending on the key of the music you are playing.

Some players also forget that the pattern between B and C, and between E and F, has no sharp or flat. There is no B♯ or E♯ (those are C and F). This trips up beginners when they count frets and expect a sharp that does not exist.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are the low and high E strings both called E if they sound different?

They are the same note at different octaves. The high E vibrates four times faster than the low E, so it sounds higher, but the pitch class is identical. Your ear recognizes them as the same note even though one is much higher.

Do I need to memorize every note on the fretboard?

No. Learn the open strings and the counting method instead. Once you know E, A, D, G, B, E, you can find any note by counting frets. This is faster and more useful than memorization.

What if my guitar is tuned to something other than standard tuning?

The same counting method works. Find out what note each open string is tuned to, then count frets from there. Alternate tunings change the open notes but not the fret-to-semitone relationship.

How do I know if a string is sharp or flat when tuning?

A digital tuner shows you. The display will read the note name and indicate whether you are above or below the target pitch. Adjust the tuning peg slowly until the indicator is centered on the correct note.

Is there a difference between a sharp and a flat note?

Not in pitch — F♯ and G♭ sound identical. The difference is in notation and context. Musicians use the name that makes sense in the key of the song. On guitar, both names refer to the same fret.