26.3 · The Neck
Landmarks
The chords and scales ahead are movable shapes, and a shape is named by the fret its root sits on. Learn the notes along the two lowest strings and you can name every shape you'll ever hold.
The low E string
The naturals fall on frets 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12: F G A B C D E. The neck's inlay dots at 3, 5, 7, 9, and 12 are your mile markers: G, A, B sit right on them, and fret 12 is always the open string one octave up.
The A string
Same idea, one string up: B C D E F G A. Fret 3 is C, fret 5 is D, fret 7 is E. These two strings carry the root of almost every chord you'll play.
Quiz · Name the fret
1 / 4Low E string, fret 3: which note?