Names of Strings on Guitar – Basic Theory

Guitar strings and their names can be really confusing. Especially if you’re a beginner. Although it is not absolutely necessary right at the start, a basic understanding on fretboard will be really beneficial in your future musical journey. Back in 2008 when I started playing the guitar, I had no idea what I was doing. I referred to the strings as ‘that thick one’ or ‘that last one’. Eventually, I understood that guitar playing is not only about the chords and melodies. It’s about the knowledge. If you keep being patient, there is a high chance that in a few years you will be able to play stunning guitar solos in front thousands of people on your shiny and brand new Gibson.

EADGBE – Names of Strings on Guitar

First, you need to know that most guitar are tuned in EADGBE tuning. It means that the first string (the thick one) is tuned E, the second string from the top is tuned in A and so on. Here’s a photo so that you can understand it and picture it instead of just reading.

The easier way to remember these six letters is to use acronyms. It helped me a lot when I was a beginner. Here’s a few funny ways to memorize it:

– Eddie Ate Dynamite Good Bye Eddie
– Even Amateurs Do Get Better Eventually
– Elephants And Donkeys Grow Big Ears
– Every Acid Dealer Gets Busted Eventually
– Eat Apples Daily Grow Big Ears

Feel free to get creative and try to come up with your own way to remember it. Although, it’s only six letters. It won’t be that difficult to memorize it.

Alternate Tunings

What’s important, although we usually refer to strings as EADGBE, this tuning is not the only guitar tuning used by the guitarists. What’s more, a lot of more intermediate players play in so called alternate tunings. This is a bit more complicated. If you’re a beginner, there is no point in confusing you. Nevertheless, once you become a bit more intermediate guitarists, feel free to experiment with the alternate tunings. In my opinion these tunings are absolutely amazing. DADGAD tuning is my favorite! I also highly recommend experimenting with Drop C and Drop D tuning.

Names of guitar strings on other guitars

• 7 string guitar – BEADGBE
• 8 string guitar – F#BEADGBE
• Bass Guitar – EADG
• Ukulele – gCEA

Ready to learn?

Thanks for sticking around and learning some new stuff about the guitar tunings. I know that being a beginner guitarist is not an easy job! Feel free to check out my other articles if you are in a mood to gain some knowledge. In addition, here’s my review of this Orangewood Guitar. I think that it’s the most affordable and cheap mahogany guitar on the market. If I could become a beginner again, I would gladly choose that instrument. I highly recommend it!