Meet the 6 strings
Concept
From thickest to thinnest, the open strings of a guitar in standard tuning are E A D G B E. The thickest (lowest sounding) string is on top when you hold the guitar.
How strings are numbered
Strings are numbered 1 to 6 from the THINNEST to the THICKEST — the opposite of how you might expect. - 6th string: low E (thickest, lowest pitch) - 5th string: A - 4th string: D - 3rd string: G - 2nd string: B - 1st string: high E (thinnest, highest pitch)
When a chord diagram says 'mute the 6th string,' it means mute the thick low E.
Memory hooks
Pick the one that sticks. From low to high (E A D G B E): - Eddie Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddie - Eat All Day, Get Big Easy - Elephants And Donkeys Grow Big Ears
Or from high to low (E B G D A E): - Every Boy Gets Donuts At Eight
Octaves between strings
Notice both outer strings are E. They're two octaves apart. The same note can live in multiple places on the guitar — that's a feature, not a bug. It's how chords get their thick layered sound.
Key takeaways
- •Standard tuning: E A D G B E, low to high.
- •Strings are numbered 1 (thinnest) to 6 (thickest).
- •Both outer strings are E — same letter, two octaves apart.
Glossary
- Open string
- A string played with no fret pressed down.
- Standard tuning
- The default tuning: E A D G B E from low to high.
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