Learn the Open Strings

Learning the Open String Notes

Why learn the open string notes?

In the near term, you'll need to learn the names of the open strings to tune your guitar properly.

In the longer term, learning the names of the notes on the open strings of the guitar is the first step to understanding the rest of the notes on the neck.

How to memorize the names of the open strings?

You'll need to learn this one by rote memory.

However, there are a few memory aids available.

The first is to use a simple mnemonic device.

One example of such a mnemonic is:

You may find it helpful to make up your own mnemonic. If you do this, you will likely never forget.

The Notes, Visualized On Guitar

Alternative method (for experienced musicians only)

If you have experience studying another musical instrument, and you understand the basics of music theory, you may find it more helpful to remember the series of intervals that separate the strings. It's always a perfect fourth, except from the third string ("G") to the second string ("b"). This is a major third.

Key Tasks

• Memorize the names of the open strings on the guitar.
• Use this information to tune your guitar with an electronic guitar tuner.