Chord shapes like the open E and A form are things most guitarists pick up early — but the ability to move them anywhere on the neck and know exactly what chord you’re playing depends on knowing the notes on the fifth and sixth strings. This is one of the most practical bits of fretboard knowledge you can have, and it pays off almost immediately.
What you’ll get out of this lesson: The note names on the low E string and A string, memorised forwards and backwards, so you can place any major or minor barre chord at any fret with confidence.
The low E string
Starting from open E, the notes climb as follows: E (open), F (1st fret), G (3rd fret), A (5th fret), B (7th fret), C (8th fret — one fret up, because there’s no B sharp), D (10th fret), and then E repeats at the 12th fret. Practise saying them out loud as you play: E, F, G, A, B, C, D, E — and then back down: E, D, C, B, A, G, F, E. Notice the gap of only one fret between B and C — this is the same rule you met in the previous lesson.
The A string
The A string uses almost the same fret positions, but with different note names. Starting from the open A: A (open), B (2nd fret), C (3rd fret — straight to C because there’s no B sharp), D (5th fret), E (7th fret), F (8th fret), G (10th fret), and A again at the 12th fret. Out loud: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A — and back: A, G, F, E, D, C, B, A.
By knowing these notes, we can play any major or minor chord anywhere we want.
Taking it further
Once you know the E and A string notes forwards and backwards, start using them actively: call out a note name, find it on both strings without looking at the diagram, and play the corresponding E-shape or A-shape barre chord at that fret. This turns a memorisation exercise into a practical chord vocabulary tool.
Your homework
Run through both strings — E and A — forwards and backwards, out loud, five times each day this week. Don’t look at the diagram unless you genuinely get stuck. By the end of the week, aim to be able to call out any note between A and G and immediately play it on both strings without hesitation.