When someone refers to the top string, they're talking about the pitch of the string. Here's where it might get a little confusing at first: we're not referencing the physical positioning of the strings. The bottom string will always be the 6th string, the Low E string. The top string always refers to the 1st string, the High E string. In the case of top strings and bottom strings, there's no room for personalization. If you use the mnemonics we just went over, you'll start from the 1st or the 6th string while memorizing the names of the guitar strings.
You might have come across the terms "top strings" and "bottom strings" if you've been reading books or watching tutorials about playing guitar.
Guitar string notes how to#
Learning how to play guitar actually rewires your brain, and taking small steps like learning the strings from the 6th to the 1st is a simple step you can take to make the process easier. We recommend using one of the more common mnemonics. Taking notes during the learning process always helps, and it's especially crucial if you're going to create a personal mnemonic.
Just make sure you can remember whether you started with the 1st string or the 6th string when you created your mnemonic. You can always change up your mnemonic to something that's equally memorable, such as: If a part of your brain is screaming, "I don't count that way! That's backward," starting from the 1st string instead of the 6th string might make more sense to you. Or you can use something a that's a bit more kid-friendly, like:īut learning is a personal process, and not everyone finds it easy to count down from six to one. The goofier the mnemonic you create is, the easier it will be to remember. While this probably won't come in handy until you have more experience playing, getting in the habit of using the numbers might be useful later on. The 1st string will always be the 1st string no matter what tuning style you use, whereas if you don't utilize its function as the High E string, using that name won't make any sense. In some genres like folk music, heavy metal, and the blues, alternate tuning is the norm more often than not, so it might be easier to refer to guitar strings by their numbers instead of their names. It's actually because some guitars are tuned differently (The Rolling Stones' Keith Richards wrote some of their most famous hits using Open G tuning), so it's essential to know the names and the numbers of each string.įrom classic rock artists like Pink Floyd and The Doors to more recent bands like Radiohead and Coldplay, guitarists use alternate tuning to express themselves creatively and create a unique, instantly recognizable sound.Īlternate tuning is also useful for singers, who can tune their guitars up or down to better compliment their vocal range. Why Do the Strings Need Names and Numbers?īelieve it or not, the reason strings need names and numbers isn't because the music gods want to make things as confusing as possible for newbie guitar players. Some of them only require you to press down on a single fret. You can play a few simple chords by merely plucking the open strings, but there are also plenty of basic chords on guitar out there you can play even when you're first beginning your guitar journey. When you press down on the fretboard as you play, they become known as " closed strings," which are also called fretted notes.
They're called "open strings" when you play any of the six strings without pressing down on the fretboard. The thinnest string is the 1st string, which is also known as the High E string.ĭon't worry if you've heard the terms "open strings" and "closed strings" being thrown around and felt confused.
The 2nd string is also called the B string. The next one down is the 4th string, also known as the D string. The next string is the 5th string, also called the A string. The thickest string is the 6th string, sometimes called the Low E string. You may hear the strings referred to by their name, their number, or both interchangeably. Guitar strings are numbered starting from the thickest string and ending with the thinnest string. Standard guitars have six strings with a name and a number that corresponds to each string. The good news is that it won't take very long to master with this essential guide. Whether you've just picked up a guitar for the first time, or you have a bit more experience, learning guitar string notes is an essential step on your musical journey.
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