The Classical Guitar Strings Names – Beginner Guitar Lessons

Guitars are some of the most versatile instruments out there. They can be played solo or in groups, they can be strummed, plucked, or even bowed (look up Jimmy Page).  

The guitar can be heard in almost any style of music, from rock, pop, jazz, classical, and even metal.  

Guitars, generally, have 6 strings, although there are extended range guitars with 7 or even more strings out there.  But, let’s not worry about that for now.

Let’s get started about classical guitar strings names.

What Notes Are The Strings On A Guitar?

A six-string guitar’s strings are the following notes from lowest to highest pitch: E A D G B E.

You may notice that there are two E strings.  This is because the highest and lowest strings are in fact the same note, but the thinner string is two octaves higher. 

The guitar strings can also be referred to by numbers, which may be easier for you.  The ”first” string would be the high E string, or the thinnest string. 

The “second” would be the B string that sits just above the E string, and so on.  The “sixth” string is, of course, the low E string, or the thickest string.

For beginners, it may be quite difficult to remember the notes of each open guitar string.  But, there are many clever ways of helping you to remember what each of these notes are.

How To Remember The Guitar String Names

E ddie 

A te

D ynamite 

G ood 

B ye 

E ddie 

This funny little mnemonic is an easy and memorable way of memorizing each of the notes of the open guitar strings. 

You could even try to make up your own sentence starting with each of the letters of the notes; E A D G B E.

How about;

E lephants

A nd

D onkeys

G row

B ig

E ars

Or;

E at

A ll

D ay

G et

B ig

E asy 

Or even;

E very

A mateur 

D oes

G et 

B etter 

E ventually 

A good way to remember your own mnemonic is to make them as silly as possible!

What Is An ‘Open String’?

An open string is a string that is not fretted. When you play an open string, you are not pressing down on any note on the fretboard.

Are The Guitar String Names The Same On Acoustic, Electric And Electro-Acoustic Guitars?

Yes, the string names are exactly the same on either an acoustic, electric, or electro-acoustic guitar.  Of course, that is if it’s tuned to “standard tuning”.

What About Bass Guitar String Names?

Bass guitars have four strings, and the lowest four strings match those of a regular guitar. They’re the same as the lowest four strings on an acoustic or electric guitar.

Bass guitar strings are tuned to E, A, D, and G.

Why Remember Guitar Strings?

Guitarists should learn the names of the strings to tune their guitars correctly.

A tuner app or a tuner guitar won’t always tell you what note you’re playing unless you also know the name of the string.

And, of course, if you can’t tune your guitar properly, you won’t sound very good when you play it!

In many guitar lessons, the string names will be referred to, so it’s important that you know the names of the string.

Final Thoughts

I hope this article helped you to understand some of the basics behind guitar strings.

I’m sure you’ll find lots of other things to read about guitar strings online, but hopefully this classical guitar strings names article was useful enough to help you get started.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Type Of Guitar Strings Are There?

There are three basic types of guitar strings: nylon, steel, and gut. Gut strings are no longer used on classical guitars, so nylon is used instead.

All three types come in different gauges (thicknesses), although they all produce similar sounds.

How Do I Choose The Right Gauge Of Guitar Strings?

If you want to buy new guitar strings, then you should think about how much tension you need for your particular style of music.

Generally speaking, the higher the gauge, the harder you have to press down the notes.

For beginners, it’s advisable to start off with a thinner gauge of string, because they are easier on your hands and fingers. 

String gauge size 10 are great for steel string acoustic guitars and even size 9 are really easy for electric though they may feel a bit “thin” at first. . 

What Is The Difference Between Nylon And Steel Guitar Strings?

The main difference between nylon and steel strings is that nylon strings are more flexible than steel strings. This means that nylon strings will stretch more easily than steel strings.

Nylon strings are generally used for classical, Spanish, and flamenco guitars.  They sound warmer than steel string guitars. 

Are There Any Advantages To Using Nylon Guitar Strings Over Steel Guitar Strings?

Nylon strings tend to be easier on your fingers than steel strings, so if you’re a beginner, you may want to start out playing a nylon string guitar. 

Do All Guitar Strings Need To Be Replaced At The Same Time?

No, not necessarily. You don’t have to replace every single string on your guitar. It’s perfectly fine to change out only one or two strings at a time.

Why Does My Guitar Keep Breaking Strings?

There are several reasons why guitar strings might break. One reason is because you’ve played them too hard.

Another reason is because you haven’t changed them often enough. Still another reason is because you’ve used poor quality strings.  

Be careful not to tighten your strings too much.  Use a tuning fork or even an app on your smartphone to help you tune your guitar to the right pitches. 

Can I Use An Electric Guitar Instead Of A Regular Acoustic Guitar?

If you’re a beginner, it’s recommended that you start on a nylon string acoustic guitar.  This will help you develop the correct techniques before you start playing a steel string electric guitar. 

Is There Anything Else I Should Know About Guitar Strings?

When it comes to choosing guitar strings, you should always make sure that you’re getting good-quality strings.

Never buy cheap strings!  They always break too easily and don’t sound as good as high-quality strings.

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