Every Boy Gets Dessert At Easter[1] X Research source
Every Boy Gets Dessert At Easter[1] X Research source
The note before is considered lower. So a B is lower than the next C. A note that occurs later on is a higher note. An E is a higher note than the earlier D.
A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G# Notice that there is no such thing as E# or B#. E and B do not ever have sharps, and the notes simply skip from E→F. As such, there is no C♭ or F♭ either. If you remember this small exception to the rule, memorizing the guitar will be easy.
On the top string, the first note (an open string) is E. The first fret on the top string is an F (remember, there is no such thing as E#). The second fret on the top string is an F#. The third fret on the top string is a G. This continues all the way down. Try naming each note on one string. If you got it all right, you’ll be back to E by the 12th fret.
E is on the open string. F is on the 1st fret. G is on the 3d fret. A is on the 5th fret. B is on the 7th fret. C is on the 8th fret. D is on the 10th fret. E is on the 12th fret, and the pattern repeats.
On the twelfth fret, for example, your notes would be E B G D A E, from the bottom up. This is because there are only 12 notes total in Western music – A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#. After the 12th note you are back where you started.
Practice playing just that one note, using the same finger each time. Build up speed slowly until you can find every single note without looking. You can use the top string to locate just about every note. Once you know the notes on the low E-string you can use the following tricks to find them anywhere.
There is one exception to this. The 2nd string (open B) is a half-step deeper than the rest. So, to find an octave ending on the 2nd string, you go down two strings, and right three frets.
You can also go in reverse. A string higher and to the right 5 frets will also create an identical note. Like with octaves, the 2nd fret is the only exception. If you end on the 2nd string, you move the left 4 frets, not 5. So, the match for 3rd string, 4th fret note is an open B-string, or the 0-fret. [3] X Research source
The top and the bottom string, both E, are identical. The D string, the 4th string, is just the E string shifted 2 frets down. The G string, the 3rd string, is just the A string shifted 2 frets down. The B string, the 2nd string, is just the A string shifted 2 frets up. [4] X Research source
Pick a spot on the guitar and move only up and down on all 6 strings, hitting just the Es in your little box to where you started. Slowly build up speed as you play until you know all the Es on that section of the fretboard. Don’t worry too much about the sharps and flats – once you know the natural notes these will be easy to find.
