Guitar String Names and Standard Tuning: EADGBE Explained

What is standard tuning?

Standard tuning is the default tuning for the six-string guitar. From the lowest-pitched string to the highest, the open strings are tuned to E, A, D, G, B, E. The pattern is usually written as EADGBE, and it is the tuning taught in most beginner methods and used in the majority of popular music.

The lowest string is the thickest and is called the 6th string. The highest string is the thinnest and is called the 1st string. Standard tuning is a compromise that makes it comfortable to play common chords and scales across the fretboard. Most beginner guitars are set up in standard tuning at the factory, so when you first pick one up, it will already be in EADGBE.

How strings are numbered

Guitar strings are numbered from the thinnest to the thickest. The thinnest string is the 1st string, and the thickest is the 6th string. This is the opposite of what many new players expect, because the 1st string is the highest in pitch, not the lowest.

Here is the full mapping:

The notes EADGBE in detail

Starting from the 6th string and moving to the 1st, the notes are: E, A, D, G, B, E. The distance between consecutive strings is mostly a perfect fourth: E to A is a fourth, A to D is a fourth, D to G is a fourth, and B to E is a fourth. The only exception is the G to B interval, which is a major third. This irregularity is what gives standard tuning its familiar shape and is the reason barre chords and scale patterns look the way they do.

The two E strings are two octaves apart. The low E (6th string) is the lowest note of the guitar's range, and the high E (1st string) is the highest open string. Many riffs and chord voicings use the open low E as a pedal tone, while melodies often resolve to the high E.

How to remember the string names

New players often use a mnemonic to keep the order straight. A common one from low to high is: "Eddie Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddie." Another is "Elephants And Donkeys Grow Big Ears." Pick one that sticks, or make up your own.

It also helps to associate the notes with familiar sounds. The low E is the thick, rumbling string that you hear in many rock riffs. The A and D strings are where most power chords sit. The G, B, and high E strings carry the melody in most solos and lead lines. As you practice, the names will become automatic.

How other instruments differ

Bass guitars are typically tuned EADG, from the 4th string to the 1st, which matches the lowest four strings of the guitar. This is why electric guitar players can switch to bass without relearning where the notes are on the lower strings.

12-string guitars use the same EADGBE notes but double each string with a second string an octave higher (or in unison for the top two), creating a thicker, shimmering sound. If you are curious about the extra strings, read about 6-string vs 12-string guitar.

Classical guitars also use EADGBE, but with nylon strings on the top three and either nylon or wound nylon on the lower three. The tuning is the same; only the material and feel change, as explained in acoustic guitar string materials.

Tuning and string care

Before you play, check that each string is close to its target note. A clip-on tuner that senses vibration is the easiest way, especially for beginners. The built-in tuner vs clip-on tuner article covers both options.

Over time, strings go dead, and tuning stability drops. If you are not sure how to replace them, the how to restring an electric guitar and how to restring an acoustic guitar guides walk through the process step by step. Keeping a fresh set on your guitar makes standard tuning sound better and holds longer.

A final note on hearing: playing at high volume, especially with headphones, can damage your hearing over time. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders notes that long or repeated exposure to sounds at or above 85 dBA can cause hearing loss. If you practice with an amp or headphones, keep the volume at a comfortable level.

What to pick for your use

Questions

Why is the 1st string the thinnest and not the thickest?

Guitar strings are numbered by pitch, not by thickness on the instrument. The thinnest string produces the highest note and is therefore called the 1st string. This convention is used in all standard music notation for guitar, including tablature and chord charts.

What is the difference between the low E and high E strings?

The low E (6th string) is the thickest and produces the lowest pitch, two octaves below the high E (1st string). The high E is the thinnest and produces the highest open note. Both are tuned to the note E but at different octaves.

Can I play chords in standard tuning without learning the string names?

Yes, you can learn chords by shape, but knowing the string names helps you understand what notes you are playing, communicate with other musicians, and tune the guitar correctly. It is worth memorizing early.

Are alternate tunings hard to learn if I know standard tuning?

Alternate tunings change the pitch of some strings, so chord shapes and scale patterns shift. Standard tuning is a good foundation. Once you know it well, learning alternate tunings becomes much easier, and you can read about the differences in How Scale Length Affects Tuning and Tension.

Do bass guitars use the same string names?

Bass guitars normally use E, A, D, G, which matches the top four strings of the guitar. The numbering is also the same: the 1st string is the thinnest G, and the 4th string is the thickest E.