Nov 27 2008
The notes on the 5th A string
It has pretty much been string week at Guitar Today , if you check out the ‘recent posts’ section on the site it is all guitar string related titles. In an effort to continue as if this were intentional, I am pleased to present you with the second installment of the Fretboard series: The notes on the 2nd (b) guitar string
Assuming that your first, open note for this string is an A, the first fret on your guitar will be A sharp (Ab). The second fret is B and the third fret is C. There is no Bb. Maybe they kept it that way to avoid confusion when using a lowercase letter b to indicate a sharp?
Moving right along. Cb is safely where we expect it be on the fourth fret and the fifth fret is a D.
In the lesson on the 1st and 6th E strings I noted the fifth fret as the ‘tuning fret. This is true with the A string as well. What I mean by this is that you can continue up the neck on this string longer, but the notes you are playing are all available on the next guitar string. So, once you hit a D note on the Db can come from the sixth fret of the A string or the 1st fret of the D string.
Exercise for string notes: Use a different finger to play each of the frets in order from the first, using your index, to the fourth using your pinky. Play it forwards and backwards and say the notes aloud when you play them (A,Ab,B,C,Cb,D, - D,Cb,C,ect.)
This builds your coordination as well as your finger dexterity and strength. Saying the notes helps you to memorize the fretboard and always know what note you are playing.
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