First position is only the beginning of the guitar neck. Learning to play higher up the fingerboard multiplies your musical possibilities - and the same notes, scales, and melodies open up in richer, new tonal areas.
Everything you have played so far has been in first position - the first four frets. The guitar neck extends to the 12th, 15th, even 20th fret. Playing in higher positions gives you access to notes unavailable in first position, different tonal colours on the same pitches, and the ability to play melodies and solos anywhere on the neck.
Higher up the fretboard, the frets get closer together (the vibrating string is shorter) and the tone quality changes - becoming brighter and more focused. Many guitarists find certain melodies sound more beautiful played in the 5th or 7th position than in first position, even when the same notes are available in both places.
A position is defined by where the index finger sits. The four fingers cover four consecutive frets from that starting point:
Index = fret 1. Fingers cover frets 1-2-3-4. All the notes in this course so far have been here.
Index = fret 2. Fingers cover frets 2-3-4-5. Some notes overlap with 1st position, others are new.
Index = fret 5. Fingers cover frets 5-6-7-8. Used by lead guitarists constantly - the 5th position on string 1 matches open chord pitch areas.
Index = fret 9. Fingers cover frets 9-10-11-12. Produces a bright, piercing tone often used in solos.
The most important reference point above first position is the 12th fret. At the 12th fret, every string sounds exactly one octave higher than the same open string. This means:
From fret 12 onward, the entire note pattern repeats identically. Fret 13 has the same note name as fret 1, fret 14 = fret 2, fret 15 = fret 3. Once you know first position notes, you know frets 12-24 as well.
To find the note at any fret above 12: subtract 12 from the fret number and look up the first-position note at that fret number. Fret 17 on string 1 = same as fret 5 on string 1 = A (one octave higher).
Knowing the notes on the 6th and 5th strings up the entire neck is particularly important because these strings are used as the root notes for barre chords (covered in the next lesson). Here are the natural notes:
When notes go above the top line (F) of the stave, short extra lines called leger lines are added to accommodate them. In guitar music, these appear frequently when playing higher up the neck:
When you encounter an unfamiliar note above the stave in music you are reading, count up from the last known position (F on the top stave line) using the letter sequence: F-G-A-B-C-D-E-F...
For any string, count up from the open string note - one semitone (one letter or accidental) per fret. The complete sequence of semitones is:
E - F - F# - G - G# - A - A# - B - C - C# - D - D# - E (repeat)
Use this sequence starting from any open string note to find the name of any note at any fret. For example, string 3 open = G. Fret 1 = G#. Fret 2 = A. Fret 4 = B. Fret 5 = C. And so on.
The most immediately useful notes to memorise above first position are on the 6th and 5th strings - because these are used as root note references for barre chords in the next lesson. Start there before memorising the entire neck.
One of the easiest ways to navigate the higher frets is by memorizing octave shapes. An octave is the exact same note, just higher in pitch. If you know the notes on the low E and A strings, you can instantly find their octaves higher up the neck.
To find the octave of any note on the low E or A string, simply move over two strings (towards the floor) and up two frets (towards the bridge). This visual "box" shape allows you to instantly locate notes around the 7th, 9th, and 12th frets without having to count up from the nut!
One of the biggest hurdles when moving past the 5th fret is the instinct to constantly stare down at your hands. While glancing at the fretboard is completely fine when shifting large distances, keeping your eyes glued to the neck can cause tension in your shoulders and severely limit your ability to engage with an audience or read sheet music. Your goal should be to build enough muscle memory to navigate the fretboard entirely by feel.
Start trusting the side dot markers on the edge of the guitar neck, which are usually located at the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 12th frets. Practice shifting a simple chord shape back and forth between the 3rd and 7th frets while keeping your eyes closed. This forces your brain to rely on the kinesthetic feeling of the arm extension rather than visual confirmation.
Everything you need to know about this lesson
The 12th fret is the exact halfway point of the guitar string. It is the octave! Every note at the 12th fret is the exact same as the open string, just one octave higher.
Because you are getting further away from the nut and closer to the middle of the string's tension, and often the 'action' (string height) is physically higher off the fretboard there.
Those are position markers! They usually mark the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 12th frets, allowing you to instantly orient your hand without looking at the front of the fretboard.
If you learn the CAGED system, you can connect your scale patterns to chord shapes. If you are playing an 'E-shape' barre chord at the 5th fret, you use the scale pattern associated with that shape.
Not at all, millions of great folk and pop songs never leave the first 3 frets. But exploring the higher neck unlocks new voicings, lead playing, and structural understanding of the instrument.
A cutaway is the scooped-out section of the guitar body near the highest frets. It allows your hand to physically reach the 15th-20th frets much easier.
The strings are shorter when fretted high up, which produces a brighter, more 'chimey' tone, similar to a mandolin. This is great for layering over a second guitar playing low chords.
Keep your eyes locked on your target fret, not on your hand as it moves. Your hand will naturally follow your eyes directly to the target!
Intonation is how accurately the guitar stays in tune as you play higher up the neck. If your 12th fret note sounds out of tune compared to the open string, your guitar needs an intonation adjustment.
Yes! Leaving the high B and e strings open while playing barre chord shapes high up the neck creates massive, lush-sounding chords used heavily in alternative rock.