Guitar and technique
Fretboard
The fretboard is the front of the guitar neck where you press the strings; its frets divide it into semitones and hold every note you can play on six strings.
What is the fretboard on a guitar?
The fretboard (or fingerboard) is the strip of wood glued to the front of the neck. Metal fret wires divide it into frets, and each fret raises the pitch by one semitone: the low E string open is E, 1st fret is F, 2nd fret is F#.
In standard tuning the open strings are E A D G B E, from low to high. Inlay dots sit at frets 3, 5, 7 and 9, a double dot at 12, then 15, 17, 19 and 21. At the 12th fret everything starts again an octave higher: the note names match the open strings.
How do you learn the notes on the fretboard?
Start with the two lowest strings, because they carry the root of most barre chords. You only need the natural notes, sharps and flats sit between them:
| String | E | F | G | A | B | C | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6th (low E) | 0 / 12 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 10 |
| 5th (A) | 7 | 8 | 10 | 0 / 12 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
Remember one rule: there is no fret between B and C or between E and F. Every other pair of neighbouring natural notes is two frets apart.
Octave shapes: find any note all over the neck
Once you know a note, octave shapes give it to you elsewhere:
- 6th to 4th string: two strings up, two frets higher (G at 6th string 3rd fret, G at 4th string 5th fret);
- 5th to 3rd string: same shape (C at 3rd fret, C on the 3rd string at the 5th fret);
- 4th to 2nd string: three frets higher because of the B string (G at 4th string 5th fret, G at 2nd string 8th fret);
- 3rd to 1st string: also three frets (A at 2nd fret, A on the 1st string at the 5th fret).
That one-fret shift when you cross onto the B string explains every shape on the guitar, including the five shapes of the CAGED system.
Exercise: find every C on the neck
Take one note a day. For C, play from lowest to highest and say the name out loud:
- 5th string, 3rd fret
- 3rd string, 5th fret
- 2nd string, 1st fret
- 6th string, 8th fret
- 4th string, 10th fret
- 1st string, 8th fret
Time yourself: aim to find them all in under 10 seconds, then repeat with G, D and A. The fretboard games drill the same thing as quick-fire questions, which is a good way to test your reflexes.
Common mistakes when learning the fretboard
- Memorising tablature without reading the notes: you can play the song but never know where you are.
- Trying to learn everything at once: two strings you really know beat six you half know.
- Ignoring intervals: knowing that a fifth sits one string up and two frets higher works in every key.
Key takeaways
- Each fret is one semitone, and the 12th fret repeats the open strings an octave up.
- Learn the natural notes on the 6th and 5th strings first.
- Octave shapes shift by one fret when they cross the B string.
- Practice one note a day across the whole neck with a timer.
Frequently asked questions
How many frets does a guitar fretboard have?
A classical guitar usually has 19 frets, with the neck meeting the body at the 12th. Acoustic steel-string guitars often have 20, electric guitars 21, 22 or 24. Above the 12th fret the notes repeat an octave higher.
Is the fretboard the same as the neck?
Not quite. The neck is the whole piece that carries the strings up to the headstock and tuners. The fretboard, also called fingerboard, is the board on its front where the frets are set. People often use the words interchangeably.
How long does it take to learn the notes on the fretboard?
With ten minutes a day, most players know the 6th and 5th strings in one or two weeks and the whole neck in two to three months. Daily consistency matters more than long sessions.
Related terms
Practise in the workshop
Take it from theory to the fretboard
Open the workshop tools and see this idea across the whole neck. Free account, no card needed.