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The Guitar Net Tutorial  -The Basics of Music 2     More About Notes and Strings   When tuning your guitar, these will be the notes you will tune to.  You may here a string referred to as a high E, or low E.  Now don't be fooled, the high E is not the thick string that appears higher in elevation when you are playing it.  The high E is the thin string that is higher in pitch.  See help on tuning for more info about that.  These are the notes that can be played on the open strings, but how do we play other notes?  Well each time you go up one fret, it raises the note by a half step.  A half step up would sharp that note.  For example, the open A string would produce an A, and if you pressed your finger on first fret of that string, it would produce an A sharp.  A full step would make an A go to a B.  To play a B you would then place a finger on the second fret.  Sounds simple, yes?  Well there are a few exceptions.  There is no E sharp, and there is no B sharp.  For example, if you brought an E up a half step, it would become an F.  So if you were playing an open E string(either one, there are 2) and you put a finger on the first fret, that's an F!  The same thing happens on the B string.  A finger on the first fret makes a C.  A flat brings a note down a half step.  Now here you will see that there are 2 flats that don't exist.  They are F and C.  There is not a flat for either one of them.  It works the same way.  This lesson's practice exercise will require you to know some of the notes on the high E string and B string.  Use this diagram as a reference.             Using your skills learned in the first 2 lessons, spend some time and learn this small song. Feel free to go back through the lessons and use what is there to play this. If you are having any trouble at all, visit the forum and post a question.  After you think you have it, play the midi file to see how it sounds!       Click here to hear this song!    Having trouble with something?  Go to the forum and post a question.  We will be checking the forum regularly for new posts and will be more  than happy to help. Previous Lesson    Next Lesson