Description
In music we use the first 7 letters of the English alphabet in order to name, identify and organize individual notes: A, B, C, D, E, F, G. Then we start again at A. As the old music al joke goes, "There is no letter H in music." So we wind up with the pattern:
A, B, C, D, E, F, G - A, B, C, D, E, F, G - A, B ... and so on, covering the entire guitar fretboard.
As the notes move through the alphabet the pitch rises from lower to higher. I have another tutorial that covers this concept in depth.
How Notes Are Named (Introducing A-G Terminology)
The letters A through G are called the Natural Notes. The notes on the frets in between the Natural Notes are called Accidental Notes.
Accidental Notes are named by using a letter and a symbol. The symbol can be either a sharp, which is identified with a symbol that looks like a number symbols "#", or a flat, which is identified with a symbol that looks like a lower case "b".
An Accidental Note is called a sharp note if it is one fret higher in pitch than it's Natural Named Note. Since the note G is on the third fret of the bottom E string, then the note one fret higher, on the fourth fret is called G-sharp (G#).
On the other hand, an Accidental Notes is called a flat note if it is one fret lower in pitch than it's Natural Named Note. Since the note A is on the fifth fret of the bottom E string, then the note one fret lower, on the fourth fret can also be called A-flat (Ab).
Whether we call a note sharp or flat depends on the musical context of the song being played. We'll get more in depth about that later. Right now, it's just important to know that the notes in between the Natural Notes are called Accidental Notes; sharps and flats. It is perfectly okay to call a G-sharp an A-flat or the other way around.
This idea of Natural and Accidental Notes leads to a system by which we can name any and all notes on the guitar. The only exceptions to the system are the notes B and C, and E and F. In between those notes there are NO Accidentals. They are right next to one another.
So, we wind up with a total of 12 possible musical alphabet letters to name notes on the guitar and in all music:
A
A-sharp or B-flat
B
C
C-sharp or D-flat
D
D-sharp or E-flat
E
F
F-sharp or G-flat
G
G-sharp or A-flat
Then the whole things repeats again with A.
Learning the location of the notes on the guitar fretboard can take a while to learn and memorize. But it's an essential step in learning. So take your time and be patient with yourself.
Lesson Info
