One of the first things you need to learn before you start learning how to play the guitar are the names of the open strings, guitar strings order, and how to tune them correctly.
It is incredibly important that you know these things and that your guitar is always properly tuned.
If your guitar is not tuned, the chords will never sound how they should, and you will most probably learn everything incorrectly if you are learning by yourself.
The names of the strings and their order are important because very soon you will start to learn the notes up and down the fretboard.
The Names Of The Guitar Strings
Knowing the names of the guitar strings is the basis for communicating, understanding, and learning the notes and chords.
The strings are named after the tones they produce when tuned correctly and played open. The open string means that you didn’t press it down anywhere.
- The first string on the guitar is the thinnest string, and when played open it produces the E note. This string is also known as the high e. This string is usually shown in lowercase so it can be distinguished from the low E string.
- The second string is above the first, and it produces the B note.
- The third string is the G string.
- The fourth string is the D string.
- The fifth string is the A string
- And the last sixth string is the low E string. This string is the thickest one.
The Guitar String Order
So, the guitar strings names in order are E, B, G, D, A, E. it always starts with the high e and ends with the low E, when we talk about standard tuning.
This might be a bit confusing because when you hold your guitar the last string in this order and shown in the bottom of the picture is actually the string closest to your head.
It is important that you remember this picture and plant it in your mind because it matches the orientation of the notes in the guitar tabs.
It is not really that difficult to remember, just bear in mind that the sixth string is the one closest to your head when you pick up your guitar.
Now, the easiest way to remember the correct order of the strings is to exercise. You can do it once a day.
Just recite the names of the strings in correct order 15 times with short pauses in between.
Then do it again tomorrow and every next day and before the one week passes you will know the guitar strings names in order.
When it comes to bass strings order, it is completely the same only without the first and the second string (e and B).
So the first string on the bass guitar is the G string, and the correct order is G, D, A, E.
How To Tune The Guitar
Now that you know the names and the correct guitar strings order, it’s time to learn how to tune the guitar.
This is extremely important, and it is not hard at all. I will explain step by step how to do it.
| Start with the thickest string, the low E string | You should tune this string as accurately as possible using the guitar tuner or one of the many guitar tuning apps for smartphones.
You can also use any other instrument as a reference tone. If you don’t have any reference tone or tuner, you can just tune that E string the best you can and then tune all the other strings to it. If you don’t play with any other musicians you will still be able to play as long as your guitar is in tune with itself. |
| Now comes the fifth string | When you place your index finger on the fifth fret of the sixth string you will produce the A note. This is your reference note for the A string.
Now pick the fretted sixth string and the open fifth string while you gently adjust the turning peg of the fifth string until the two tones are exactly the same. When you are tightening the peg the note becomes higher, and when you are loosening it the note becomes lower. |
| The 4th string | To tune the D string, place your index finger on the fifth fret of the A string and repeat the process from the previous step. |
| The 3rd string | Place your index finger on the 5th fret of the D string and repeat the process. |
| The 2nd string – B | This is the only string that is not tuned the same way as the others. To produce the B note on the 3rd string you will have to place your index finger on the 4th fret.
Other than this, the entire process is completely the same. It is important that you remember that the reference tone for the 2nd string is from the 4th fret of the string above it so you can tune your guitar correctly. |
| The high e string | Place your finger on the fifth fret of the 2nd string and tune the 1st string until it matches the reference tone. |
This is the standard tuning pattern. There are, of course, different patterns but this one is the most commonly used pattern in the world.
Conclusion
There you have it. Now you know the names and the order of the strings and how to tune your guitar correctly.
If your question was “What is the guitar string notes order?” we hope it was answered!
You can see that it is not difficult at all. If you have any questions, please let me know in the comment section.
