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An open string is one where you are not pressing down on any fret. Make sure you buy a decent guitar tuner so you can experiment but always come back to your standard guitar string names. Assigning numbers is also favored for the same. So there are other ways to a tune a guitar that alter the standard guitar string names, but it’s best to avoid alternate tunings while you’re a beginner. Each string on the guitar has a name but can also be referred to by a number: The easiest way to remember the guitar string names is to use a mnemonic. Some refer to it as EADGBE, while others call it EBGDAE; for a beginner who is learning the guitar, it is always confusing to remember the names of guitar strings, especially while tuning them. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. This is also the thinnest string on the guitar. Sometimes this string is referred to as the high-e. So it you pluck any of the strings without pressing down on any of the frets you are playing an ‘open string’. An acronym stands for the short form of a longer phrase or name of a particular entity: in this case, the acronyms are EBGDAE, EADGBE, GDAE, etc. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Guitar String Numbers Bass guitars usually have just 4 strings and these mirror the lowest 4 strings on a standard guitar. Over 100,000 guitar-learners get our world-class guitar tips & tutorials sent straight to their inbox: Click here to join them. Yes, lots. The name of the string is often shown in lowercase to distinguish it from the low-E. Enter your email address to learn our best guitar tips and tricks today! Whatever way is used to memorize and learn all the guitar string names, never start or end without the standard order in which they are positioned and played. This order mostly is that of the standard tuning, but also might vary if you drop-tune your guitar to different frequencies. Others simply repeat the names in order several times everyday till the time they cannot be easily forgotten! For example, metal music uses ‘Drop D’ and ‘Drop C’ tunings and folk genres favour DADGAD tunings. The guitar string names we’ve covered here are in standard tuning, but there are around a dozen different tunings that are used in different genres. (It's free.). You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. You can either start from the top or the bottom, depending on your convenience. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Puzzled over memorizing those confusing guitar string names and the order in which they are present on the instrument? Guitar String Names: Tricks To Get Around The Fretboard Quickly. Vinyl Records Are Making a Comeback. Not anymore, as this Melodyful article shall teach you how to understand and remember them, with the help of some easy ways and methods. Every Average Dude Gets Better Eventually. Would you like to write for us? As the name suggests, phosphor bronze sees phosphor added to the alloy to slow oxidation and extend string life. Ok, so the standard guitar string names are E, A, D, G, B, E. (But are there any other ways we can tune a guitar?) The String Names The name of the thickest string, the sixth string, is E. Moving on, the fifth string is A, fourth is D, third is G, second is B, and then the first string is E. The six strings of a guitar can be thought of in descending or ascending order. Beginning at the top of the image: The 1st string produces an e note. Make a simple acronym of six words using a mnemonic; the 1st letter of every word, read in order, will stand for each of the guitar string names. Sign up to receive the latest and greatest articles from our site automatically each week (give or take)...right to your inbox. © National Guitar Academy Ltd | All Rights Reserved, Guitar Notes Explained: A Guide For Beginners, The lowest open note you can play is the 6th string. The Easiest Way to Begin Memorizing Guitar Notes and Strings with Acronyms. (Weirdly, we don’t call them ‘closed’ strings when you do the opposite. Start with chords.”, Join over 100,000 other guitar learners and subscribe to our guitar-tips-by-email service. Our site includes quite a bit of content, so if you're having an issue finding what you're looking for, go on ahead and use that search feature there! For example, if you want to memorize or learn the strings of an acoustic or electric guitar, then assign numbers 1 to 6 to each of the strings. The guitar world, like any other hobby niche, has plenty of idiosyncrasies like this. The standard naming of acoustic/electric guitars, and four and five-string bass guitars is given in the following images: In this technique, you have assign specific numbers for each string by maintaining their positional order. These cookies do not store any personal information. The skin on your fingertips will toughen after a couple of months and it will stop hurting. That’s not much fun for a beginner. The best way to think of ‘top’ and ‘bottom’, in guitar terms, is based on the pitch of the notes rather than the strings’ physical position. Guitar string names are important; if you want to tune your guitar (or learn guitar at all) you’re going to need to know the names of the strings. Yes the guitar string names are exactly the same across all types of guitar. Regardless of a different tuning by which you might play your instrument, always remember the string names according to the universal or standard tuning, i.e., EBGDAE from bottom to top, and vice versa. Here’s How to Start Collecting. . If you switch to an exotic alternate guitar tuning, the chord shapes all change. Learn the open guitar string names, but don’t worry about memorising the full neck. The thick string is named E, for the note it plays. but also timeless fundamentals that will deepen your understanding. As I say to my new students again and again: “Start with chords. In standard guitar tuning, this is tuned to E and is often referred to as the "low E string," meaning the lowest note you can play. There are a number of techniques that can be used for this task. This is a very creative way to memorize and learn the string names, be it an acoustic, electric, or even a bass guitar. To begin with, you’ll get dents in your finger tips and it may hurt a little. Pick whichever one resonates or seems most memorable to you. Some of the best acronyms for used for string naming of acoustic/electric guitars are given below. Well, we're looking for good writers who want to spread the word. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. We describe a string as being ‘open’ when you’re not pressing on it. Absolutely not and this is a key point. You will surely remember this, as the names will now be stuck in your head forever! Hence, this is the, The highest open note you can play is the 1st string. This is a very creative way to memorize and learn the string names, be it an acoustic, electric, or even a bass guitar. Remember, the more ridiculous it is the better! We'll send you a series of lessons that will move you to the next level of your guitar journey. Start with chords. We share ninja tips (for instant fun!) You have to press quite hard on the strings for the notes to ring clearly. I don’t know why it’s this way, it just is!). The sillier the better! Yup, they have the same guitar string names as a standard acoustic. This is represented in the following manner: In the image given above, each letter represents one string along with its specific number. But make sure to maintain the same order. Each material has its own timbre. Bronze sounds bright, with bell-like clarity and a wide treble-forward frequency response. Acoustic guitar strings are commonly made of bronze, phosphor bronze, brass, nickel, silk and steel. We've created informative articles that you can come back to again and again when you have questions or want to learn more! We hope you enjoy this website. Stick with standard tuning for at least the first 6 months of your guitar journey. The thickest string is called the 6th string. Phosphor bronze strings tend to sound a little darker and warmer than … 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 … This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The guitar string names we’ve covered here are in standard tuning, but there are around a dozen different tunings that are used in different genres. ✓ Learn 12 beginner-friendly versions of every chord. With this in mind, we created a cheat-sheet; a key and scale-finder that you can use again and again. This is normal, so don’t worry. If everything fails, simply learn the string names by-heart; say it repeatedly in you head: EBGDAE, EBGDAE, or EADGBE, EADGBE. Here’s a couple of fun ways to remember this: (Going from the thickest string to the thinnest…), (Going from the thinnest string to the thickest string…). 6789 Quail Hill Pkwy, Suite 211 Irvine CA 92603. Hence, this is the. In case of bass guitars, it will be GDAE, GDAEB, or even GDAEBG (for 6-string basses). These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Make a simple acronym of six words using a mnemonic; the 1st letter of every word, read in order, will stand for each of the guitar string names. 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.