In standard tuning, an acoustic guitar’s open strings are E–A–D–G–B–E, from the thickest, lowest-pitched string to the thinnest, highest-pitched string. That names the six open strings—not every note on the fretboard. Each fretted note depends on the string and fret.
What are the six open-string notes?
From the thickest string to the thinnest, standard tuning is:
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| String number | Position | Open note |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Thickest, lowest-pitched | Low E |
| 5 | A | |
| 4 | D | |
| 3 | G | |
| 2 | B | |
| 1 | Thinnest, highest-pitched | High E |
String numbers describe positions, not different note names: string 6 is the low E, while string 1 is the high E. The sequence is often written E–A–D–G–B–E. Fender and D’Addario describe this as the usual standard tuning for guitar.
How do notes change as you move up the fretboard?
Pressing a string against a fret shortens the part that vibrates, raising its pitch. Each fret increases the pitch by one semitone, as Yamaha explains in its acoustic guitar guide. The note sequence is:
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C, C-sharp, D, D-sharp, E, F, F-sharp, G, G-sharp, A, A-sharp, B, then C again.
Start from the open note of a string and count one step for each fret. For example, the A string is A open, A-sharp at fret 1, B at fret 2, and C at fret 3. At fret 12, the open-string note returns one octave higher. The same twelve-note cycle applies on each string, but each string starts at a different note.
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Some notes can be written with either a sharp or a flat, depending on the musical context: C-sharp and D-flat, for example, sound the same on a standard-tuned guitar and occupy the same fret.
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Which fretboard landmarks help you check a note?
- Fret 12: It repeats that string’s open note an octave higher.
- Fret 5: It usually matches the next higher open string. The exception is the G string: its fourth fret matches the open B string.
- String order: Learn E–A–D–G–B–E from thickest to thinnest before memorizing notes farther up the neck.
These relationships are useful checks, but counting semitones from the correct open note is the direct way to identify a fret.
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Does this note sequence apply to every acoustic guitar?
No. E–A–D–G–B–E assumes standard tuning. Alternate tunings change one or more open notes: in Drop D, the lowest E string is lowered to D; DADGAD is another tuning used on acoustic guitar. A standard-tuning chart will not give the correct open-string notes for those tunings.
Check the guitar’s tuning before using a chart. If the instrument has no built-in tuner, a clip-on tuner can help verify the strings; Fender and D’Addario both discuss tuner use in their guidance on acoustic-guitar tuning.
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Sources
- Yamaha Corporation: The Structure of the Acoustic Guitar
- D’Addario: The 6 Guitar String Notes
- Fender: Acoustic Guitar Buying Guide for Beginners
- Fender: How to Remember Guitar String Order & Names
- Open Guitar Chords: Guitar Fretboard Notes: Full Neck Chart, updated September 12, 2026.
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