Every fret on every string of the guitar produces a note, and every note has a name, which is represented by a letter. The names of each of the notes on your instrument are important; you'll need to know where to find them in order to read music or to communicate with other musicians. Going from the sixth string (thickest) to the first string (thinnest), the strings are named E, A, D, G, B, and E. The sixth string and the first string are the same note, two octaves apart.

Because you're going to need to know the names of your strings for so many reasons, take the time to learn them now. To help you memorize them, try this little phrase: “Every Adult Dog Growls, Barks, and Eats.”

Try playing each of the strings in order while saying the names out loud as an exercise. Then test yourself by pointing to a string at random and saying the name of that string as quickly as possible.