Guitar Strings Notes Beginner Lesson: Learn the notes for guitar strings order with extra special tricks to help you remember them and start playing easy guitar songs fast!
If you’re looking for a simple, easy beginner guitar guide to help you learn the guitar string notes and names, congrats—you just found it!
Memorizing the guitar string note names can be a real struggle for beginners. But don’t worry, help is here! This guide will make understanding guitar string order a breeze.
We’ll explain it clearly and share two powerful memory tricks that’ll help you easily remember the guitar string notes and names. (One is perfect for kids learning to play guitar!)
This will unlock a whole new level of playing and get you strumming your favorite guitar songs in no time!
Guitar String Names
Understanding guitar string names and notes is crucial for playing guitar, as it helps you tune your guitar strings, find notes, and follow learn how to play guitar lessons online and in person.
Most guitars have 6 strings, and each string has a specific name and number. The string names come from the notes we tune them to, which we call standard tuning.
The guitar string numbers, from the thick (low) string to the thin (high) string, are 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1.
Take a look at this first guitar fretboard diagram below. 👇
Guitar Strings Numbers:
Guitar Strings Notes:
The guitar string notes in order, from the thick (low 6th) string to the thin (high 1st), are E, A, D, G, B, and E.
Take a look at the fretboard diagram below, where you can see the thin 1st string note written with a lowercase “e” to help you see the difference between the low and high E strings.
Also, do you notice how, on the fretboard diagram, the string thickness is shown? Now that’s what I call handy!👇
Strings on a Guitar Chart (+ Tips to Avoid a Common Mistake)
Feeling confused about “low” and “high” strings on your guitar? Don’t worry, it’s a common beginner mistake! Here’s the key: forget about the strings’ position – it’s all about pitch!
Take a look at this guitar chart and then I’ll explain further.👇
The low string (the thickest one) plays the lowest notes, while the high string (the thinnest one) plays the highest notes.
It might seem counterintuitive at first, but this system is based on the sounds the strings produce.
Understanding the difference between the low and high strings on a guitar will help you read guitar chord charts, tabs (tablature), and fretboard diagrams with ease!
- We call the thickest string on the guitar the low (aka thick or bottom) E string because it makes the lowest sound (pitch).
- We call the thin string on the opposite side the high (aka thin or top) e string because it makes the highest sound (pitch).
How to Remember Guitar String Names
I get it. Remembering the name of the guitar strings can feel tricky at first. Here’s a powerful technique I teach to my guitar students to help boost memory recall: mnemonics.
What’s A Mnemonic?
Mnemonics are like little memory hacks that make learning easier. They’re like catchy tunes you can’t get out of your head, except instead of songs, they’re clever phrases or tricks that help you remember things like names, dates, or facts.
Here’s a great guitar strings note mnemonic to help you remember the guitar string order:
Eat And Drink Green Berries every day (E-A-D-G-B-E)
The way it works is each word’s first letter corresponds to a guitar string note, starting from the thickest (6th) string to the thinnest (1st) string.
But here’s the twist: Combine this mnemonic phrase with the visuals in the picture below, and you’ve now turbo-boosted your brain’s memorization skills!
By combining the mnemonic with a visual cue, you’re supercharging your memory. It’s like having a cheat sheet your brain can easily access!
The phrase + visuals make learning the guitar strings faster and more effective, letting you focus on the fun part—making music!
Check out the visuals below, read the mnemonic from the bottom up, and prepare to get your healthy berry game on! 👇
Guitar Strings Notes Memory Aid #1.
Guitar Strings Notes Memory Aid #2. (Great for Beginner Kids!)
Learning guitar strings can be an adventure, especially for kids! Here’s a second fun and effective memory mnemonic to help beginners remember the guitar strings’ note order.
This memory aid mnemonic is:
Elephants And Ducks Go Bowling every day (E-A-D-G-B-E)
This mnemonic is taken from the my popular new Guitar Basics for Kids book; children love its fun silliness!
Just like the other guitar strings mnemonic, each word’s first letter matches a string note, starting from the thickest string (6th low E) to the thinnest string (1st high e).
Take a look below and read the phrase from the bottom up.👇
Now, close your eyes and imagine a bunch of cute elephants and ducks bowling! Can you see the elephants bowling with their big trunks and the ducks waddling up to their turn?
The next time you pick up your guitar, picture those elephants and ducks bowling down each string—it’ll help you remember the notes in no time!
(This works equally for little kids and grown-up kids. 😉🎸)
Summing it Up
That’s it! Now you’ve got a handle on those guitar string notes with the help of these handy mnemonics.
Remember, the order of the strings is crucial for playing chords and melodies on your guitar. So, keep practicing and visualizing those guitar string notes – it’ll all click soon!
Pretty soon, you’ll be strumming your first beginner guitar chords and playing along to your favorite songs.
Keep rocking and strummin’ Superstars!
