Guitar Fretboard Lessons
Part 2 - String/Fret Relationships

In Part 1, we learned the note positions for the first 2 strings on the guitar, the E and A strings.

Now, you could also apply the method we used in part 1 to the other 4 strings, but this lesson will show you a more productive way to learn the notes for the other 4 strings and at the same time get you thinking about string relationships.

What do I mean by string relationships? - basically, how one string at a certain fret produces the same note as another string at another fret!

When you know where all the notes are, lead guitar will become much easier to execute, especially for improvisation. Also, chord construction (i.e. different voicings) will be much easier to understand (e.g. you'll know where a chord tone lies in more than 1 place).

So use the fretboard diagrams below and let's get this nailed!

String relationships on the fretboard

In a moment we'll look at some fretboard diagrams to see how the 6 strings relate to each other. Assuming you've learned the first 2 strings from part 1, this shouldn't take too long to master, and what you end up with is the ability to shift these visual relationships up and down the fretboard.

So just bear in mind that these diagrams apply to any position up and down the fretboard...

1 - E, D and e (high E) strings

We established in part 1 that the low E string is the same note as the high E string, so if you were at fret 3, you should know that the low E string would be the note G, therefore the high E string at fret 3 would also be that note.

Straight away then, if you've learned the low E string notes, then you'll know the high E string notes automatically.

The other related string in that diagram was the D string. All you need to do is look at its position in relation to the high or low E string - it's 2 frets higher. So if you fretted the D string at fret 5 it would be the note G because the E string in its related position would be at fret 3, which you'd know is also G.

Try it - play those string positions in the diagram above anywhere on the fretboard. They're the same note.

2 - A, G and B strings

Again, in part 1, you should have learned all the notes for the A string. So we can use this as our "base"...

The B string note is 2 frets below the same note on the A string and 4 frets below the same note on the G string.

3 - E, D, B and e strings

This diagram links the first and the second previous diagrams together...

The note positions on the E, D and high E strings we learned from the first diagram in this lesson, and the B string position we learned from the second diagram, so we're in effect linking those diagrams together.

The link bridge is between the B string and D string positions - they're 3 frets apart. Once you then establish what the note is on the D string from its relationship with the B string, you'll know how it relates to both the E strings from the first diagram.

4 - E, A, G and e strings

The G string position lies 3 frets below the E string positions.

Then, once you know the note on the G string, you also know how the A string relates to that from the 2nd diagram!

Link them ALL together

Work on all 4 diagrams above and learn their relationships. If you were to play the note C, you should be able to visualise it in all its positions...

Try another one... find all the note positions (including beyond the 12th fret octave) for G

The tab below has the answer:

If you're still taking a while to locate the same note on other strings, just keep working on this lesson - it won't take long. Like with anything, your brain will eventually memorise these visual relationships on the fretboard just like you remember chord and scale shapes. Keep at it!

The real benefit of these lessons is when you come to construct chords or scales, because you'll be able to go through the thought process of... "I need a lower/higher sounding D note" or something similar, and you'll know almost instantly where to put your fingers. It'll all fall in to place.

I find these note relationships really useful for chord voicings because if, for example, I need a lower/higher sounding chord tone (see the chord theory section for more on this), I'll know where to find it nearby and build the chord around it. Music theory is like a map you piece together over time.

Part 3  - Intervals >