Guitar Notes in First Position - All 6 Strings up to the 4th Fret
First position covers the first four frets - and knowing every note there gives you everything you need to read music, find chords, and understand your instrument properly.
First position covers the first four frets - and knowing every note there gives you everything you need to read music, find chords, and understand your instrument properly.
First position - the area of the neck from the open strings through the 4th fret - is where most beginner and intermediate guitar music is played. Knowing every note here gives you the foundation to read any music, understand chord shapes, and move confidently around the neck.
You already know the natural notes on the 1st and 2nd strings. This lesson extends that knowledge across all six strings and adds the sharp and flat notes between them.
Each string is listed from thickest (6th) to thinnest (1st). For each string, the open note is followed by notes at frets 1 through 4. Where two names appear (e.g. F#/Gb), either name is correct depending on the musical key context.
Refer to this chart whenever you encounter a note you do not recognise in music. Over weeks of regular reading practice, you will need to consult it less and less as positions become automatic.
Open: E Fret 1: F Fret 2: F#/Gb Fret 3: G Fret 4: G#/Ab
Open: B Fret 1: C Fret 2: C#/Db Fret 3: D Fret 4: D#/Eb
Open: G Fret 1: G#/Ab Fret 2: A Fret 3: A#/Bb Fret 4: B
Open: D Fret 1: D#/Eb Fret 2: E Fret 3: F Fret 4: F#/Gb
Open: A Fret 1: A#/Bb Fret 2: B Fret 3: C Fret 4: C#/Db
Open: E Fret 1: F Fret 2: F#/Gb Fret 3: G Fret 4: G#/Ab
Both the thinnest and thickest strings are tuned to E - so they have exactly the same note names at every fret, just two octaves apart in pitch. A scale pattern you learn on string 1 works note-for-name identically on string 6.
At this stage, always use the finger that matches the fret number: finger 1 for fret 1, finger 2 for fret 2, finger 3 for fret 3, finger 4 for fret 4. This consistent fingering makes reading and playing in first position much more automatic over time.
The fastest way to memorise these notes is to read music that uses them daily. Even 5 minutes of sight-reading practice every session - playing through a simple melody and naming each note before you play it - builds the map in your memory rapidly.
A useful exercise: pick one string and play from the open note up to the 4th fret, saying the note name aloud as you play each one. Then do it in reverse. Work through all six strings this way once per practice session.
First position refers to playing notes in the first four frets of the guitar, with your first finger covering the 1st fret, second finger the 2nd fret, third finger the 3rd fret, and fourth finger the 4th fret. This is where most beginners spend the majority of their time, and it is where the most commonly used open chords (G, C, D, Em, Am) and basic scales live.
Mastering the notes in first position gives you everything you need to play hundreds of songs. More importantly, understanding where each note lives on each string builds the mental fretboard map that you will rely on for the rest of your guitar life. Every advanced technique, from barre chords to improvisation, builds on this foundation.
Before learning fretted notes, know the names of the six open strings. From the thickest (lowest-sounding) string to the thinnest (highest-sounding): E, A, D, G, B, E. Many guitarists remember this with the phrase "Eddie Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddie." Notice that the lowest and highest strings are both named E, but they are two octaves apart in pitch.
The open 6th string is E (low E). Moving up the frets: 1st fret is F, 2nd fret is F# (or Gb), 3rd fret is G, 4th fret is G# (or Ab). Learning these notes is particularly important because the low E string is where the root notes of many power chords and barre chords are found. When a guitarist says "play an F barre chord," they mean placing the root note F on the 1st fret of the 6th string.
The open 5th string is A. Moving up: 1st fret is A#/Bb, 2nd fret is B, 3rd fret is C, 4th fret is C#/Db. The A string is the second most important string for barre chords and power chords. Songs in C, B, and Bb often use the A string as their root for chord shapes.
The 4th string (D): open D, then Eb (1st fret), E (2nd fret), F (3rd fret), F# (4th fret). The 3rd string (G): open G, then Ab (1st fret), A (2nd fret), Bb (3rd fret), B (4th fret). The 2nd string (B): open B, then C (1st fret), C# (2nd fret), D (3rd fret), Eb (4th fret). The 1st string (high e): open E, then F (1st fret), F# (2nd fret), G (3rd fret), G# (4th fret).
You may have noticed that some frets have two names: F# and Gb are the same pitch played at the same fret. This is called an enharmonic equivalent. The note sounds identical, but it gets called different names depending on the musical context and the key of the song. For now, just know that any fret with a sharp or flat name has two valid names for the same pitch.
When memorising the notes on the fretboard, focus on one string per week. Start with the low E string because it is the most important for barre chords. Say each note name out loud as you play it. By the end of six weeks, you will know all the natural notes in first position from memory, which is a level of fretboard knowledge that many guitarists never achieve.
Memorizing the first position can be tedious. A great way to build finger memory and hand strength simultaneously is the "Spider Walk" exercise. Start on the low E string and play the open string, 1st fret (index), 2nd fret (middle), 3rd fret (ring), and 4th fret (pinky).
Once you reach the pinky, move up to the A string and repeat the process. Do this all the way across the fretboard. It forces your fingers to learn exactly how far they need to stretch to hit every note in the first position perfectly.
Everything you need to know about this lesson
First position means playing with your hand near the nut of the guitar, where your index finger hovers over the 1st fret, middle over the 2nd, ring over the 3rd, and pinky over the 4th.
Not at all. Start by memorizing the natural notes (no sharps/flats) on just the low E and A strings. This will help you find your barre chords much faster later on!
You might not be pressing hard enough, or your fingers are too far behind the fret wire. Always aim to press down just slightly behind the metal fret, not in the middle of the space.
It is totally fine for beginners to look at their fretting hand! Over time, muscle memory will develop and you'll naturally stop looking as much.
The 'position' refers to the fret where your index finger is resting. In first position, your index finger handles the 1st fret, middle handles 2nd, etc.
Yes! Your pinky is responsible for all notes falling on the 4th fret. Training your pinky early is crucial for long-term success.
The highest note without shifting your hand up the neck is the G# on the 4th fret of the high e string.
Use it as a 5-minute warm-up every time you pick up the guitar. It builds coordination much faster than just learning songs.
When playing single notes in first position, it's best to keep your thumb anchored on the middle of the back of the neck to give your fingers maximum reach.
You are developing calluses! This is a completely normal rite of passage for every guitarist. The pain usually fades entirely after 2-3 weeks of daily practice.