Guitar Fretboard Notes

Once you know where notes live on the fretboard, chord and scale shapes stop being abstract patterns. This allows you to place barre chords in any key, read music, and navigate the neck with confidence.

Try it interactively

Use the Scale Explorer to see notes highlighted on an interactive fretboard. Hover any fret to reveal its note name.

Explore the Fretboard

Standard Tuning Open Strings

The first step is knowing the 6 open string notes in standard tuning (string 6 to string 1):

EString 6

AString 5

DString 4

GString 3

BString 2

EString 1

Mnemonic

Eddie Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddie (E A D G B E)

Notes on the 6th String (Low E)

Memorising the low E string is the highest-priority task for guitarists. All E-shape barre chords and scale roots are named from this string.

Fret	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
Note	E	F	F#	G	G#	A	A#	B	C	C#	D	D#	E

At fret 12 the notes repeat. Every note at fret 12 is one octave above the open string. The fretboard is cyclical: frets 12–24 are an exact repetition of frets 0–12, one octave higher.

Notes on the 5th String (A)

The 5th string is the second most important for guitarists, as it holds the root notes for all A-shape barre chords.

Fret	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
Note	A	A#	B	C	C#	D	D#	E	F	F#	G	G#	A

The Natural Notes

Learning just the natural notes (no sharps or flats) first reduces the memory load significantly. There are only 7 natural notes: C D E F G A B. Once you know where these are, the sharps and flats always sit between them (except between E–F and B–C which have no sharp/flat between them).

No E# or B#

E and F are only a half step (1 fret) apart. So are B and C. This is why the major scale's interval pattern has half steps at 3–4 and 7–8.

The Octave Shape: Your Secret Weapon

The octave shape is the fastest way to find the same note in multiple places on the fretboard. If you know a note on one string, you can instantly find it on other strings:

Octave Patterns

From String	To String	Move	Example
6th (E)	4th (D)	+2 frets	A at fret 5 on string 6 → A at fret 7 on string 4
5th (A)	3rd (G)	+2 frets	D at fret 5 on string 5 → D at fret 7 on string 3
4th (D)	2nd (B)	+3 frets	G at fret 5 on string 4 → G at fret 8 on string 2
3rd (G)	1st (e)	+3 frets	D at fret 7 on string 3 → D at fret 10 on string 1

Rows 1–2 use +2 frets (both string pairs are a perfect 4th apart). Rows 3–4 cross the G–B boundary (a major 3rd instead of a 4th), so those patterns use +3 frets instead of +2.

Strategy: How to Memorise the Fretboard

Week 1: Memorise the 6th string natural notes at frets 1–12.
Week 2: Memorise the 5th string. Use them for barre chord placement.
Week 3: Learn the octave shape to find notes on strings 4 and 3.
Week 4: Add strings 2 and 1 (B and high E strings).
Ongoing: Name a random note out loud when you place any chord or scale shape.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many notes are on a guitar fretboard?

A standard 22-fret guitar has 6 strings × 23 positions (frets 0–22) = 138 note positions. However, there are only 12 unique pitches (notes) in Western music, and many of these positions are octave repetitions of each other. The unique pitches span roughly 4 octaves on a standard guitar.

What are the open string notes in standard tuning?

In standard tuning (low to high): E – A – D – G – B – E. A common mnemonic is 'Eddie Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddie'. The low E (6th string) and high E (1st string) are two octaves apart.

What is the fastest way to learn fretboard notes?

The most effective approach: (1) Learn the natural notes on the 6th string (E F G A B C D E…), (2) use the octave shape (2 strings up, 2 frets across) to find the same note on other strings, (3) learn the 5th string next, (4) use 5th-string root patterns for chords and scales. This builds from the root-note knowledge guitarists use most.

Why do guitarists need to know the fretboard notes?

Knowing the fretboard notes lets you: place barre chords in any key without counting frets, understand scales and how they relate to positions, transpose songs to different keys, communicate with other musicians using note names, and navigate the neck musically rather than mechanically.

Are there notes without sharps or flats on the fretboard?

Yes, the natural notes (no sharps/flats) are C D E F G A B. Two pairs of natural notes are adjacent with only a half step between them: E–F and B–C. This means there is no E# or B# (they are just F and C). This is why the pattern of notes on the fretboard has a slightly uneven spacing.