If you are a beginner learning an instrument, there are basics to memorize first before building on top of them. Whether you are working on learning how to read music or the names of the strings on your instrument, there is a phrase to help you out!
I still remember my childhood piano lessons: Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge (EGBDF – the treble clef), and All Cows Eat Grass (ACEG – the bass clef). These phrases are mnemonics, meaning the first letter in each word refers to note/string on the instrument or note on the musical staff.
The guitar and bass are no exception to these fun teaching methods. Rather than helping to read music for the piano, here are tips and tricks to remember the strings on a standard 6-string guitar and 4-string bass.
For a 6 String Guitar
Memorizing the strings of the guitar is arguably the most important step to learn for beginner guitarists. It will allow you to tune the guitar properly in standard tuning, help you read guitar tablature, and of course play notes and chords!
The modern 6-string guitar has been in use since the 1800s. The standard tuning (EADGBE)
was developed to give the player the most practical and comfortable hand formations in order to create chords and melodies. The player is able to reach the frets with minimal stretch. The strings are tuned the same for both acoustic and electric guitars. Here is a diagram of a guitar fret in standard tuning with the strings labeled by note letter and number:
Please refer back to the diagram as needed in order to better understand what is being described. Let us first establish what ‘open note’ means, since the guitar in standard tuning requires the 6 strings to be tuned to the following notes:
–Open note E
–Open note A
–Open note D
–Open note G
–Open note B
–Open note E
Open note is the term used to describe a note that requires no additional fingering or holding down the string at a certain fret. When the string is plucked without it being pressed down, it results in an open note. Though the two E strings sound confusing, it actually gives you one less string tuning to remember! Since E is the first and last string in the 6 string succession, you can simply remember that the two outside strings are E in standard tuning.
One is referred to as the ‘low’ E, and the other the ‘high’ E. When tuning the guitar, the plucked strings will play an open low E, an open A, an open G, an open B, and an open high E.
The 6 strings can be thought of in either descending or ascending order: From thickest to thinnest (6th to 1st), or thinnest to thickest (1st to 6th). It also can be referred to as top to bottom, or bottom to top. Despite being the string closest to you when sitting with the guitar across your body, the low E string is considered the bottom, 6th string.
6th – low E string
5th – A string
4th – D string
3rd – G string
2nd – B string
1st – high E string
Think of the terms ‘bottom’ and ‘top’ in reference to pitch rather than positioning in order to lessen confusion. The lowest open note that can be played is the 6th string (low E), therefore it is the ‘bottom’ string. The highest open note that can be played is the 1st string (high E), furthest from you. The thickest string is the ‘bottom,’ the thinnest is the ‘top.’
Therefore, when memorizing the string order from thickest to thinnest (EADGBE), you are memorizing the strings from bottom to top.
Depending on which way you prefer to memorize them, here are some mnemonic phrases for both bottom to top (6th to 1st) and top to bottom (1st to 6th) ordering of strings. Feel free to also try and make up your own!
6th to 1st
Every Apple Does Grow Bad Eventually
Elephants And Donkeys Grow Big Ears
I personally would recommend memorizing the strings in this order, since it is easier to start with the string closest to you when tuning. Then you count down as you go. 6–E, 5–A, 4–D, 3–G,
2–B, 1–E.
It is entirely up to player preference, however, so here is a phrase to remember the strings from 1st to 6th, farthest from you to closest.
Easter Bunnies Get Dizzy After Easter
4 String Bass
Now that you know the 6 open string notes of the guitar, you also know the 4 open strings on the bass guitar! This again refers to standard tuning. The bass guitar shares the same first four strings (the lower, thicker strings). You can use a guitar acronym for this, since it will give you the notes — and leave out the last two notes — (EADG), or use a 4-word phrase to remember:
Elephants Always Do Good
Every Apple Dies Good
These phrases work for remembering the strings from thickest (closest to you) to thinnest, but again depending on preference another phrase can be used to memorize the strings from thinnest to thickest. A favorite trick of mine for remembering this order (GDAE) is to simply put on your best Australian accent and say ‘G’day!’.
A question that may come to mind is what exactly is ‘standard’ tuning? Standard tuning simply refers to the typical tuning of a string instrument. It is recommended that beginners spend a lot of time working with standard tuning and memorize the open guitar string names.
More complex, alternate tuning comes after the basics have been mastered. Standard tuning allows for the easiest transition between chords and playing scales. The player does not need to move their hand around the frets as much as in other tunings.
There are dozens of ways to tune that alter the string names, all of which can be learned with time and practice! You have lots to look forward to on your journey of learning the guitar!