Learning the notes on each guitar string is an important foundational lesson for all beginners. Unfortunately it’s also something that is going to require a bit of practice at first and a little memorization.
In today’s post I’m going to explain first the difference between half steps and whole steps as well as how that translates to the guitar neck. Next I’ll explain the spacing between each musical note A through G and finally I’ll give you an example of how to find the different notes on the low E string using the different steps and fret spacings explained in this article.
So Lets get Started.
The concept of half steps and full steps comes from the Piano. Since we’re not dealing with a piano we need to understand it in terms of our guitar neck.
One half step is the same as one fret on your guitar neck. So to make up a full step that is the same as two frets.
REACP
1/2 step = 1 Fret
Full Step -= 2 Frets
The spacing between each note (A through F) is either one full or one half step. The easiest way to remember is that all notes have a full step between them except for B to C and E to F, between each of these notes is only one half step.
RECAP
Space between all notes is one full step
Exceptions: B to C = one 1/2 Step and E to F = one 1/2 step
Ok time for a quick example.
To get started it’s important that you know the names of the strings, E, A, D, G, B and E. We’re going to start with the low E or 6th string for this example.
So when we play the open E string we’re of course playing an E. The note that comes after E is F and if we remember from above E to F is one of the exceptions that only has one half step between them. So we move up to the 1st fret (remember each fret is a half step). Playing the low E string on the first fret is an F.
Let’s do another one.
What comes after F? It’s a G note. We know that there is a full step between the F and G notes so we have to move up two frets to the 3rd fret. So the 3rd fret on the low E string is a G note.
One more just to make sure you’ve got the hang of it.
After the G note we go back around to the beginning and play an A note. The spacing between the G and A notes is one full step so again we must move up two frets. Slide up to the 5th fret on the low E string and we have an A note.
Starting with each open string you can easily find the notes all the way up the neck just by remembering the space between each note and then convert that to number of frets.
Below is a quick video that recaps this lesson and also shows you the notes on the A and D strings as well. Take a few minutes to watch this video and after wards grab your own guitar and give this exercise a try.
If you’re interested in learning more great beginner guitar tips like this one why not consider a learn to play guitar dvd? You get all the same great instruction as private lessons from the luxury of your own home.