# Notes on the neck

> Interactive page: [`notes.html`](notes.html)

Four strings, twelve frets, seven letters. Name the open strings, walk the naturals up each one, learn the octave shape, then find any note from a root on the E or A string. A bass line is named after its roots — this is the map that makes [Reading](reading.md), [Scales](scales.md) and [Shapes & positions](shapes.md) make sense.

Note names sit under each TAB (G string on top, four lines); a bar follows the sounding note. How to read it: [Foundations · TAB](foundations.md).

## Every string, nut to fret 12

Open strings are E A D G, a fourth apart.

```
G|-------------0--
D|---------0------
A|-----0----------
E|-0--------------
```

Natural notes — whole steps sit two frets apart; B–C and E–F are the half steps (one fret). Fret 12 is the open string an octave higher.

- **E string** — frets 0 1 3 5 7 8 10 12 = E F G A B C D E
- **A string** — frets 0 2 3 5 7 8 10 12 = A B C D E F G A
- **D string** — frets 0 2 3 5 7 9 10 12 = D E F G A B C D
- **G string** — frets 0 2 4 5 7 9 10 12 = G A B C D E F G

## The octave shape

The same letter sits two strings up and two frets higher: a root on the E string and its octave on the D string, or a root on the A string and its octave on the G string.

- A on the E string (fret 5) → A on the D string (fret 7)
- C on the A string (fret 3) → C on the G string (fret 5)

## Find any note

| Fret | E string | A string |
|------|----------|----------|
| 0 | E | A |
| 1 | F | A♯ / B♭ |
| 2 | F♯ / G♭ | B |
| 3 | G | C |
| 4 | G♯ / A♭ | C♯ / D♭ |
| 5 | A | D |
| 6 | A♯ / B♭ | D♯ / E♭ |
| 7 | B | E |
| 8 | C | F |
| 9 | C♯ / D♭ | F♯ / G♭ |
| 10 | D | G |
| 11 | D♯ / E♭ | G♯ / A♭ |
| 12 | E | A |

Check: the A string at fret 7 is the open E string an octave up, and the E string at fret 5 is the open A string.

## Ready when

- Name any natural note on the E and A strings without counting up from the nut.
- Find the octave above any root on the E or A string: two strings up, two frets higher.
- Walk the E string and the A string from 0 to 12 at 80 bpm and say every letter on the beat.