Guitar Fretboard Notes
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In standard tuning the open strings are E, A, D, G, B and E, from the thickest string to the thinnest (E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4). Each fret raises a note by one half step, so moving up a string runs through the musical alphabet with a sharp (or flat) between every pair of letters except B-C and E-F. At the 12th fret every string reaches its open note an octave higher, and the whole pattern repeats.
Fretboard notes chart
The natural notes (no sharps or flats) on every string from the open string to the 12th fret. The top line is the thin high e string, as in tab.
Every note, frets 0-12
Sharps are shown here; each also has a flat name (C# is the same note as Db, F# is Gb, and so on). Frets 3, 5, 7, 9 and 12 carry the dot markers on most guitars, which makes them useful landmarks.
| String | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st (high e) | E | F | F# | G | G# | A | A# | B | C | C# | D | D# | E |
| 2nd (B) | B | C | C# | D | D# | E | F | F# | G | G# | A | A# | B |
| 3rd (G) | G | G# | A | A# | B | C | C# | D | D# | E | F | F# | G |
| 4th (D) | D | D# | E | F | F# | G | G# | A | A# | B | C | C# | D |
| 5th (A) | A | A# | B | C | C# | D | D# | E | F | F# | G | G# | A |
| 6th (low E) | E | F | F# | G | G# | A | A# | B | C | C# | D | D# | E |
Find any note with octave shapes
Learn the natural notes on the 6th and 5th strings first. From there, octave shapes carry each note up the neck without memorizing every string separately:
- From the 6th string (low E), the same note an octave up is on the 4th string (D), two frets higher.
- From the 5th string (A), the same note an octave up is on the 3rd string (G), two frets higher.
- From the 4th string (D), the same note an octave up is on the 2nd string (B), three frets higher.
- From the 3rd string (G), the same note an octave up is on the 1st string (high e), three frets higher.
The shape stretches by one fret whenever it crosses onto the B string, because the G and B strings are tuned a major third apart instead of a fourth. The low E and high e strings carry the same note names, two octaves apart. For a step-by-step memorization plan, read how to memorize the guitar fretboard.
Test yourself
The note-finding drill names a note and you tap where it lives, on the strings and frets you choose. Learn mode gives hints; Test mode gives you one try. You answer on screen; the app does not listen to your guitar. Free, no sign-up.
Start the guitar note drillBass fretboard notes
A 4-string bass is tuned E, A, D, G (E1 A1 D2 G2): the same note names as the lowest four guitar strings, one octave lower. Everything above, including the octave shapes between those strings, carries straight over. A 5-string bass adds a low B string below the E.
| String | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st (G) | G | G# | A | A# | B | C | C# | D | D# | E | F | F# | G |
| 2nd (D) | D | D# | E | F | F# | G | G# | A | A# | B | C | C# | D |
| 3rd (A) | A | A# | B | C | C# | D | D# | E | F | F# | G | G# | A |
| 4th (E) | E | F | F# | G | G# | A | A# | B | C | C# | D | D# | E |
Start the bass note drill or see a bass scale such as the E minor pentatonic.