Notes on the neck names before shapes

Every movable chord is named after the note under one finger. Learn the names on the two low strings first — that is all a power chord or a barre needs — then use octave shapes to find the same note on every other string.

The musical alphabet

Seven letters, then they repeat: A B C D E F G A… Between most neighbours there is a note in between, which costs two frets. Two pairs have nothing in between — B–C and E–F sit one fret apart.

One fret = one half step. Up a fret is sharp (♯), down a fret is flat (♭). F♯ and G♭ are the same fret with two names.
Fret 12 is the open string again, an octave higher. Everything above it repeats the map from the nut.

String 6 — low E

The naturals on the thickest string. Say each name out loud as it plays — the voice is what makes it stick.

e|---------------------------
B|---------------------------
G|---------------------------
D|---------------------------
A|---------------------------
E|-0--1--3--5--7--8--10--12--

String 5 — A

Same alphabet, starting from A. Note the B–C step (frets 2–3) and the E–F step (frets 7–8).

e|---------------------------
B|---------------------------
G|---------------------------
D|---------------------------
A|-0--2--3--5--7--8--10--12--
E|---------------------------

Use the dots

The inlays are landmarks. Learn these five and count one or two frets from the nearest one:

Fret	3	5	7	9	12
String 6	G	A	B	C♯	E
String 5	C	D	E	F♯	A

Fret 5 on any string is the next open string up (that is how you tune), except the G string, where it is fret 4.

Octave shapes — every string from two

An octave is the same letter, higher. From a note on string 6 or 5, two strings up and two frets right is the same name. Past the B string the shape grows by one fret, because B is tuned a half step closer.

String 6, fret n → string 4 (D), fret n+2
String 5, fret n → string 3 (G), fret n+2
String 4 (D), fret n → string 2 (B), fret n+3
String 3 (G), fret n → string 1 (e), fret n+3

Every C in the first twelve frets, low to high:

e|-----------------8--
B|--------------1-----
G|-------5------------
D|----------10--------
A|-3------------------
E|----8---------------

Find it — one-minute drill

A note name appears. Click it on the neck above — any string, any octave, frets 0–12. Start on strings 6 and 5 only; when that is easy, hunt on all six.

Press Start

All six strings

The whole neck — past strings 6 and 5

Once the two low strings and the octave shapes are automatic, map the rest. Every string from the nut to fret 24, the same naturals stacked into ten vertical CAGED figures, then every place one letter lives. Note names sit under each TAB; a bar follows the sounding note.

Open strings — E A D G B e

Low to high, then high to low. Say the name before the pick lands.

e|-----------------------0--------------------
B|-------------------0-------0----------------
G|---------------0---------------0------------
D|-----------0-----------------------0--------
A|-------0-------------------------------0----
E|---0---------------------------------------0
LH   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D
     E   A   D   G   B   E   B   G   D   A   E

Natural notes on every string

Whole steps sit two frets apart; B–C and E–F are the half steps (one fret). Each string shows frets 0–12 beside 13–24. Across the strings, the same notes sit in the ten vertical CAGED figures below.

Low E · 0–12 · E F G A B C D E

e|--------------------------------
B|--------------------------------
G|--------------------------------
D|--------------------------------
A|--------------------------------
E|---0---1---3---5---7---8--10--12
LH   0   1   3   1   3   4   2   4
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U
     E   F   G   A   B   C   D   E

Low E · 13–24 · F G A B C D E

e|----------------------------
B|----------------------------
G|----------------------------
D|----------------------------
A|----------------------------
E|--13--15--17--19--20--22--24
LH   1   3   1   3   4   2   4
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D
     F   G   A   B   C   D   E

A · 0–12 · A B C D E F G A

e|--------------------------------
B|--------------------------------
G|--------------------------------
D|--------------------------------
A|---0---2---3---5---7---8--10--12
E|--------------------------------
LH   0   2   3   1   3   4   2   4
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U
     A   B   C   D   E   F   G   A

A · 13–24 · B C D E F G A

e|----------------------------
B|----------------------------
G|----------------------------
D|----------------------------
A|--14--15--17--19--20--22--24
E|----------------------------
LH   2   3   1   3   4   2   4
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D
     B   C   D   E   F   G   A

D · 0–12 · D E F G A B C D

e|--------------------------------
B|--------------------------------
G|--------------------------------
D|---0---2---3---5---7---9--10--12
A|--------------------------------
E|--------------------------------
LH   0   2   3   1   3   1   2   4
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U
     D   E   F   G   A   B   C   D

D · 13–24 · E F G A B C D

e|----------------------------
B|----------------------------
G|----------------------------
D|--14--15--17--19--21--22--24
A|----------------------------
E|----------------------------
LH   2   3   1   3   1   2   4
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D
     E   F   G   A   B   C   D

G · 0–12 · G A B C D E F G

e|--------------------------------
B|--------------------------------
G|---0---2---4---5---7---9--10--12
D|--------------------------------
A|--------------------------------
E|--------------------------------
LH   0   2   4   1   3   1   2   4
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U
     G   A   B   C   D   E   F   G

G · 13–24 · A B C D E F G

e|----------------------------
B|----------------------------
G|--14--16--17--19--21--22--24
D|----------------------------
A|----------------------------
E|----------------------------
LH   2   4   1   3   1   2   4
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D
     A   B   C   D   E   F   G

B · 0–12 · B C D E F G A B

e|--------------------------------
B|---0---1---3---5---6---8--10--12
G|--------------------------------
D|--------------------------------
A|--------------------------------
E|--------------------------------
LH   0   1   3   1   2   4   2   4
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U
     B   C   D   E   F   G   A   B

B · 13–24 · C D E F G A B

e|----------------------------
B|--13--15--17--18--20--22--24
G|----------------------------
D|----------------------------
A|----------------------------
E|----------------------------
LH   1   3   1   2   4   2   4
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D
     C   D   E   F   G   A   B

High e · 0–12 · E F G A B C D E

e|---0---1---3---5---7---8--10--12
B|--------------------------------
G|--------------------------------
D|--------------------------------
A|--------------------------------
E|--------------------------------
LH   0   1   3   1   3   4   2   4
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U
     E   F   G   A   B   C   D   E

High e · 13–24 · F G A B C D E

e|--13--15--17--19--20--22--24
B|----------------------------
G|----------------------------
D|----------------------------
A|----------------------------
E|----------------------------
LH   1   3   1   3   4   2   4
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D
     F   G   A   B   C   D   E

Vertical naturals · CAGED

The walks above stay on one string (horizontal). These ten figures are the same natural notes across the strings (vertical) — C, A, G, E, D, then the same five from the 12th fret up — covering frets 0–24. Figure 1 is first-position C, filled out. The tonic-to-tonic reading ladder stays on Classical drills; chord-shape depth on CAGED.

Figure 1 · C shape · first position · frets 0–3

e|-----------------------------------------------------------0---1---3
B|-----------------------------------------------0---1---3------------
G|---------------------------------------0---2------------------------
D|---------------------------0---2---3--------------------------------
A|---------------0---2---3--------------------------------------------
E|---0---1---3--------------------------------------------------------
LH   0   1   3   0   2   3   0   2   3   0   2   0   1   3   0   1   3
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D
     E   F   G   A   B   C   D   E   F   G   A   B   C   D   E   F   G

Figure 2 · A shape · frets 2–6

e|-----------------------------------------------------------3---5
B|-----------------------------------------------3---5---6--------
G|-----------------------------------2---4---5--------------------
D|-----------------------2---3---5--------------------------------
A|-----------2---3---5--------------------------------------------
E|---3---5--------------------------------------------------------
LH   2   4   1   2   4   1   2   4   1   3   4   2   4   4   2   4
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U
     G   A   B   C   D   E   F   G   A   B   C   D   E   F   G   A

Figure 3 · G shape · frets 4–8

e|-----------------------------------------------------------5---7---8
B|-----------------------------------------------5---6---8------------
G|-----------------------------------4---5---7------------------------
D|---------------------------5---7------------------------------------
A|---------------5---7---8--------------------------------------------
E|---5---7---8--------------------------------------------------------
LH   2   4   4   2   4   4   2   4   1   2   4   2   3   4   2   4   4
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D
     A   B   C   D   E   F   G   A   B   C   D   E   F   G   A   B   C

Figure 4 · E shape · frets 8–12

e|---------------------------------------------------------------8--10--12
B|---------------------------------------------------8--10--12------------
G|---------------------------------------9--10--12------------------------
D|---------------------------9--10--12------------------------------------
A|---------------8--10--12------------------------------------------------
E|---8--10--12------------------------------------------------------------
LH   1   3   4   1   3   4   2   3   4   2   3   4   1   3   4   1   3   4
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U
     C   D   E   F   G   A   B   C   D   E   F   G   G   A   B   C   D   E

Figure 5 · D shape · frets 9–13

e|----------------------------------------------------------10--12--13
B|----------------------------------------------10--12--13------------
G|-----------------------------------9--10--12------------------------
D|-----------------------9--10--12------------------------------------
A|--------------10--12------------------------------------------------
E|--10--12--13--------------------------------------------------------
LH   2   4   4   2   4   1   2   4   1   2   4   2   4   4   2   4   4
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D
     D   E   F   G   A   B   C   D   E   F   G   A   B   C   D   E   F

Figure 6 · C shape · octave up · frets 12–15

e|----------------------------------------------------------12--13--15
B|----------------------------------------------12--13--15------------
G|--------------------------------------12--14------------------------
D|--------------------------12--14--15--------------------------------
A|--------------12--14--15--------------------------------------------
E|--12--13--15--------------------------------------------------------
LH   1   2   4   1   3   4   1   3   4   1   3   1   2   4   1   2   4
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D
     E   F   G   A   B   C   D   E   F   G   A   B   C   D   E   F   G

Figure 7 · A shape · octave up · frets 14–18

e|----------------------------------------------------------15--17
B|----------------------------------------------15--17--18--------
G|----------------------------------14--16--17--------------------
D|----------------------14--15--17--------------------------------
A|----------14--15--17--------------------------------------------
E|--15--17--------------------------------------------------------
LH   2   4   1   2   4   1   2   4   1   3   4   2   4   4   2   4
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U
     G   A   B   C   D   E   F   G   A   B   C   D   E   F   G   A

Figure 8 · G shape · octave up · frets 16–20

e|----------------------------------------------------------17--19--20
B|----------------------------------------------17--18--20------------
G|----------------------------------16--17--19------------------------
D|--------------------------17--19------------------------------------
A|--------------17--19--20--------------------------------------------
E|--17--19--20--------------------------------------------------------
LH   2   4   4   2   4   4   2   4   1   2   4   2   3   4   2   4   4
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D
     A   B   C   D   E   F   G   A   B   C   D   E   F   G   A   B   C

Figure 9 · E shape · octave up · frets 20–24

e|--------------------------------------------------------------20--22--24
B|--------------------------------------------------20--22--24------------
G|--------------------------------------21--22--24------------------------
D|--------------------------21--22--24------------------------------------
A|--------------20--22--24------------------------------------------------
E|--20--22--24------------------------------------------------------------
LH   1   3   4   1   3   4   2   3   4   2   3   4   1   3   4   1   3   4
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U
     C   D   E   F   G   A   B   C   D   E   F   G   G   A   B   C   D   E

Figure 10 · D shape · octave up · frets 21–24

e|--------------------------------------------------22--24
B|------------------------------------------22--24--------
G|------------------------------21--22--24----------------
D|------------------21--22--24----------------------------
A|----------22--24----------------------------------------
E|--22--24------------------------------------------------
LH   2   4   2   4   1   2   4   1   2   4   2   4   2   4
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U
     D   E   G   A   B   C   D   E   F   G   A   B   D   E

Find every natural

The maps below are the answer key. Learn a few home seats, then jump. Justin-style octave shapes after the E and A strings are solid · Hal Leonard / first-position reading for the first five frets · inlay dots (3, 5, 7, 12) as landmarks. One letter a day beats a tour of all seven.

Day’s order: G (open + dots) · E and A (open strings) · C (first-position home) · then D, F, B. High e is free — same letters as low E, same frets.

If you blank: nearest landmark, then count. B–C and E–F are one fret; every other natural step is two.

Landmarks on the two master strings (inlay dots). Memorize these; the rest is a jump or a count.

Low E · dots 3 5 7 12 · G A B E

e|----------------
B|----------------
G|----------------
D|----------------
A|----------------
E|---3---5---7--12
LH   3   1   3   4
RH   D   U   D   U
     G   A   B   E

A · dots 3 5 7 12 · C D E A

e|----------------
B|----------------
G|----------------
D|----------------
A|---3---5---7--12
E|----------------
LH   3   1   3   4
RH   D   U   D   U
     C   D   E   A

Octave jump — two strings toward the floor and two frets toward the body, or three frets if the jump crosses G→B. High e matches low E at the same fret (twin strings).

E → D · 2+2

e|--------
B|--------
G|--------
D|-------5
A|--------
E|---3----
LH   3   1
RH   D   U
     G   G

A → G · 2+2

e|--------
B|--------
G|-------5
D|--------
A|---3----
E|--------
LH   3   1
RH   D   U
     C   C

D → B · 2+3

e|--------
B|-------8
G|--------
D|---5----
A|--------
E|--------
LH   1   4
RH   D   U
     G   G

G → e · 2+3

e|-------3
B|--------
G|---0----
D|--------
A|--------
E|--------
LH   0   3
RH   D   U
     G   G

G · 0–12

Home: open G, E/3 (dot), e/3 (twin).

e|---------------------------3
B|-----------------------8----
G|---------------0--12--------
D|-----------5----------------
A|------10--------------------
E|---3------------------------
LH   3   4   4   0   4   4   3
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D
     G   G   G   G   G   G   G

G · 13–24

e|----------------------15
B|------------------20----
G|--------------24--------
D|----------17------------
A|------22----------------
E|--15--------------------
LH   3   4   4   4   4   3
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U
     G   G   G   G   G   G

E · 0–12

Home: both open E strings; same letters at fret 12.

e|---------------------------0--12
B|-----------------------5--------
G|-------------------9------------
D|---------------2----------------
A|-----------7--------------------
E|---0--12------------------------
LH   0   4   4   2   4   4   0   4
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U
     E   E   E   E   E   E   E   E

E · 13–24

e|----------------------24
B|------------------17----
G|--------------21--------
D|----------14------------
A|------19----------------
E|--24--------------------
LH   4   4   2   4   4   4
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U
     E   E   E   E   E   E

A · 0–12

Home: open A, E/5 (dot).

e|---------------------------5
B|----------------------10----
G|-------------------2--------
D|---------------7------------
A|-------0--12----------------
E|---5------------------------
LH   4   0   4   4   2   4   4
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D
     A   A   A   A   A   A   A

A · 13–24

e|----------------------17
B|------------------22----
G|--------------14--------
D|----------19------------
A|------24----------------
E|--17--------------------
LH   4   4   4   2   4   4
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U
     A   A   A   A   A   A

C · 0–12

Home: A/3 (dot), B/1 (first-position C).

e|-----------------------8
B|-------------------1----
G|---------------5--------
D|----------10------------
A|-------3----------------
E|---8--------------------
LH   4   3   4   4   1   4
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U
     C   C   C   C   C   C

C · 13–24

e|----------------------20
B|------------------13----
G|--------------17--------
D|----------22------------
A|------15----------------
E|--20--------------------
LH   4   3   4   4   1   4
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U
     C   C   C   C   C   C

D · 0–12

Home: open D, A/5 (dot).

e|--------------------------10
B|-----------------------3----
G|-------------------7--------
D|-----------0--12------------
A|-------5--------------------
E|--10------------------------
LH   4   4   0   4   4   3   4
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D
     D   D   D   D   D   D   D

D · 13–24

e|----------------------22
B|------------------15----
G|--------------19--------
D|----------24------------
A|------17----------------
E|--22--------------------
LH   4   4   4   4   3   4
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U
     D   D   D   D   D   D

F · 0–12

Home: one fret above E — E/1 and e/1.

e|-----------------------1
B|-------------------6----
G|--------------10--------
D|-----------3------------
A|-------8----------------
E|---1--------------------
LH   1   4   3   4   4   1
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U
     F   F   F   F   F   F

F · 13–24

e|----------------------13
B|------------------18----
G|--------------22--------
D|----------15------------
A|------20----------------
E|--13--------------------
LH   1   4   3   4   4   1
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U
     F   F   F   F   F   F

B · 0–12

Home: open B, E/7 (dot).

e|---------------------------7
B|-------------------0--12----
G|---------------4------------
D|-----------9----------------
A|-------2--------------------
E|---7------------------------
LH   4   2   4   4   0   4   4
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U   D
     B   B   B   B   B   B   B

B · 13–24

e|----------------------19
B|------------------24----
G|--------------16--------
D|----------21------------
A|------14----------------
E|--19--------------------
LH   4   2   4   4   4   4
RH   D   U   D   U   D   U
     B   B   B   B   B   B

Ready when

Move on when all of these are true on a normal day, not your best one:

You can name any fret on strings 6 and 5 in under two seconds.
You can find a named note on string 6 and string 5 without counting from the nut.
You can jump from a low-string note to its octave on the D or G string by shape.

Sources: Hal Leonard Guitar Method (note names by string, sharps and flats) · Berklee Modern Method for Guitar (William Leavitt — the neck learned position by position). Octave shapes follow from standard tuning’s fourths and the major-third B string.