Knowing the names of the open strings is very important. You will need to know the string names in order to use your tuner or tune to another instrument (a piano or sax for instance.) String names are often used to communicate finger placement (play the D string, 7th fret etc) and you might break a string and need to know its name in order to replace it. Congrats: you have started off on your path of musical jargon!

The strings:

E – 1st (thinnest)

B – 2nd

G – 3rd

D – 4th

A – 5th

E – 6th (thickest)

Make a rhyme:

The best way to learn these is to make up a saying from the 1st string downward like:

“Everyone Buys Guitars Down At Evans”

or the famous:

“Easter Bunny Gets Drunk After Easter” I would if I was him too. Sheesh…

How about:

“Every Booty Gets Down At Eli’s” (at least if your name is Eli this one will work great!)

Try making up your own!

Join the forum discussion on this post 

All content © Coire Walker 2009 - 2013