Basic guitar features

Diagram Orientation

The picture below shows the orientation of the scale and chord diagrams used in the lessons on this site. Chord and scale diagrams use the same orientation as a photo or video screen.

The lower strings are nearer the top of the page. The higher strings are nearer the bottom of the page.

The notes get higher as you go to the left. The notes get lower as you go to the right. (The diamonds are fret markers at the 3rd and 5th frets.)

This is the same orientation as when you are watching a guitar video on TV, or looking at a photograph of a guitar. Or imagine that someone is facing you with a guitar. (This is not the same view you get when you watch yourself in a mirror.)

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Diagram Orientation Is Different From Tablature Orientation

This orientation of the diagrams is the reverse of tablature.

Tablature was designed this way because in staff notation, the lower notes are at the bottom of the page and the higher notes are at the top. Tablature was based on staff notation, not on diagrams or photographs.

We have chosen to use this orientation for all of the diagrams used in lessons because it makes the most sense to beginners who have never seen tablature. People used to reading tab should remember these diagrams are a schematic representation of what you would see in a photograph of a guitar neck, and keep that orientation in mind.

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String Names and Numbers

Each string has a name and a number. The highest string is the 1st string. The lowest string is the 6th string. (All guitar methods number the strings this way.)

We will use the string numbers more than the string names, but it's good to know both.

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Fret Numbers

Each fret has a number. The lowest fret is the 1st fret. The lowest fret is the fret closest to the nut. The numbers get higher as you move up the guitar neck. The higher the fret, the higher the note.

Fret numbers don't usually appear in the diagrams. You can tell the fret number by counting up from the nut of the guitar.

Diagrams are in open position unless fret numbers show otherwise.