Beginner Guitar Lesson on Learning the Notes on Each Guitar String

It might not be a glamorous lesson, learning the notes on each guitar string, it is one that should be done before you get to far along with learning chords and songs. Take it from me, someone who didn’t learn it in the beginning and then had a hard time teaching it to myself later on, learn it now you’ll become a better guitar player for it.

So when we talk about the notes on each guitar string what do we actually me? You know the notes of each string, they’re the same as the names. Starting from the top we have: E, A, D, G, B, and E again. Of course those aren’t the only notes we can play on those strings. Each fret when pressed plays a different note on each string.

Full and Half Steps

When we talk about musical notes what we mean is the notes A through G. There is not H, or Q or Z note. You only have the notes A to G, as well as sharps and flats in between but for now we’ll start with the major notes.

Each note is separated from one another by either a half or a whole step. The easy way to remember it is this.

Each note has a whole step between them with two exceptions. B and C have a half step between them as does E and F.

So how does this whole and half step concept fit into learning the notes on the guitar neck? Glad you asked, you see the frets on the neck of your guitar are each one half step. So if you play the top string open you play an E and if you play the first fret on the same string you play an F (remember there is only one half step between E and F).

Below there is a video explaining this concept in more detail and I actually walk you through the notes on the top several strings explaining the steps I’m making each time. Watch that video all the way through and then go grab your own guitar. Give it a try and you’ll see how the patterns start to arise.

Spend a bit of time each week doing this and before you know it you’ll have the first several frets memorized for what notes are where on the guitar neck.

Interested in more beginner guitar tips and lessons? Why not try a learn to play guitar dvd course? Programs like these are the private guitar lesson of the 21st century with full video instruction and online support. If you’re serious about improving your guitar skills check one out.

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