# Notes on the neck Every movable chord is named after the note under one finger. Learn the names on strings 6 and 5 first, then use octave shapes for the rest. ## The musical alphabet A B C D E F G, then repeat. Most neighbours are two frets apart; **B–C** and **E–F** are one fret apart. Up a fret is sharp, down a fret is flat. Fret 12 is the open string an octave up. ## String 6 — low E E 0 · F 1 · G 3 · A 5 · B 7 · C 8 · D 10 · E 12 ## String 5 — A A 0 · B 2 · C 3 · D 5 · E 7 · F 8 · G 10 · A 12 ## Use the dots | Fret | 3 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 12 | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | String 6 | G | A | B | C♯ | E | | String 5 | C | D | E | F♯ | A | ## Octave shapes - String 6 fret n → D string fret n+2 - String 5 fret n → G string fret n+2 - D string fret n → B string fret n+3 - G string fret n → e string fret n+3 Every C in frets 0–12: A3, E8, G5, D10, B1, e8. ## Find it — one-minute drill The HTML page names a note; click it on the neck. Strings 6 and 5 first, then all six. ## 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. **Open strings** — E A D G B e, low to high and back. ``` 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** — each string shows frets 0–12 beside 13–24. Whole steps sit two frets apart; B–C and E–F are one fret. Across the strings, the same notes sit in the ten vertical CAGED figures below. ``` Low E E|---0---1---3---5---7---8--10--12 E|--13--15--17--19--20--22--24 E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E A A|---0---2---3---5---7---8--10--12 A|--14--15--17--19--20--22--24 A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A D D|---0---2---3---5---7---9--10--12 D|--14--15--17--19--21--22--24 D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D G G|---0---2---4---5---7---9--10--12 G|--14--16--17--19--21--22--24 G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G B B|---0---1---3---5---6---8--10--12 B|--13--15--17--18--20--22--24 B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B high e e|---0---1---3---5---7---8--10--12 e|--13--15--17--19--20--22--24 E F G A B C D E 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](drills-classical.md); chord-shape depth on [CAGED](caged.md). **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 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: ``` Low E E|---3---5---7--12 G A B E A A|---3---5---7--12 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. ``` E → D · 2+2 A → G · 2+2 D → B · 2+3 G → e · 2+3 E|-3---- A|-3---- D|-5---- G|-0---- D|----5- G|----5- B|----8- e|----3- G G C C G G G G ``` **G** — home: open G, E/3 (dot), e/3 (twin). 0–12: E/3 A/10 D/5 G/0 G/12 B/8 e/3 · 13–24: E/15 A/22 D/17 G/24 B/20 e/15 **E** — home: both open E strings; same letters at fret 12. 0–12: E/0 E/12 A/7 D/2 G/9 B/5 e/0 e/12 · 13–24: E/24 A/19 D/14 G/21 B/17 e/24 **A** — home: open A, E/5 (dot). 0–12: E/5 A/0 A/12 D/7 G/2 B/10 e/5 · 13–24: E/17 A/24 D/19 G/14 B/22 e/17 **C** — home: A/3 (dot), B/1 (first-position C). 0–12: E/8 A/3 D/10 G/5 B/1 e/8 · 13–24: E/20 A/15 D/22 G/17 B/13 e/20 **D** — home: open D, A/5 (dot). 0–12: E/10 A/5 D/0 D/12 G/7 B/3 e/10 · 13–24: E/22 A/17 D/24 G/19 B/15 e/22 **F** — home: one fret above E — E/1 and e/1. 0–12: E/1 A/8 D/3 G/10 B/6 e/1 · 13–24: E/13 A/20 D/15 G/22 B/18 e/13 **B** — home: open B, E/7 (dot). 0–12: E/7 A/2 D/9 G/4 B/0 B/12 e/7 · 13–24: E/19 A/14 D/21 G/16 B/24 e/19 ## Ready when - Any fret on strings 6 and 5 named in under two seconds. - A named note found on both low strings without counting from the nut. - Low-string note → octave on D or G by shape.