Are you struggling to learn the guitar fretboard notes? Use my left-handed guitar fretboard notes diagram and you’ll soon be navigating the fingerboard with ease!
Understanding the notes on the fretboard can feel like a daunting task, especially when everything seems to be designed for right-handed players. So, Let’s dive in and transform your guitar-playing experience!
Left-Handed Guitar Fretboard Notes
The left handed guitar fretboard notes diagram below shows a preview of the chart – if you don’t want to strain your eyes, click on it to download a high-resolution version (or click here).
Print it out, set it as your wallpaper, or simply pull it up on-screen whenever you need it.
Make sure to also stick around until the end of this article where you can check out a version of this diagram that you can physically attach to your fretboard!
The Left-Handed Guitar Fretboard Diagram Explained
As a left-handed guitarist, you may have noticed that most instructional materials and diagrams are geared toward right-handed players. This can make learning the guitar feel a bit like looking in a mirror – everything is reversed.
But don’t worry! A left-handed guitar fretboard diagram is designed specifically to help you visualize and understand the notes on your fretboard in a way that makes sense for lefties.
What Is a Fretboard Diagram?
A fretboard diagram is a visual representation of the guitar’s fretboard. It maps out where each note is located on the neck of the guitar, helping you to see the relationships between the strings and frets. These diagrams are incredibly useful for learning scales, chords, and even for improvisation.
How to Read a Left-Handed Guitar Fretboard Diagram
Reading a left-handed guitar fretboard diagram is straightforward once you understand the basics. The diagram typically shows the neck of the guitar with the strings running horizontally and the frets running vertically. The string closest to the bottom side of the diagram represents the lowest-pitched string (usually the 6th string, or low E), and the string on the top represents the highest-pitched string (the 1st string, or high e).
Each point where a string and a fret intersect is marked with the note that is played when the string is pressed at that fret. For example, on the diagram above, you’ll see that pressing the 5th fret of the 6th string will give you an A note.
Notes on the Fretboard: A String-by-String Breakdown
Standard Guitar Tuning and Its Notes
Before diving into the specific notes on each string, it’s important to understand standard tuning. In standard tuning, the strings on a left-handed guitar are tuned from lowest to highest pitch as follows:
- 6th String (E): The thickest string, closest to you
- 5th String (A): The next thickest string
- 4th String (D): Located in the middle of the fretboard
- 3rd String (G): The third thinnest string
- 2nd String (B): The second thinnest string
- 1st String (e): The thinnest string, furthest from you
Time For Some Basic Music Theory!
In the world of music, there are 7 whole notes: A – B – C – D – E – F – G
In between these whole notes, we have some sharp (#) and flat (b) notes :
A – A#/Bb – B – C – C#/Db – D – D#/Eb – E – F – F#/Gb – G – G#/Ab.
Your first task is to learn this sequence of notes, as this is the order in which they will appear on every string.
Once you know this pattern you will be able to figure out any note on the fingerboard.
Notice that all whole notes have a sharp/flat in between, apart from the intervals between B and C, and E & F.
What is the Difference Between a Flat (b) and Sharp (#) Note?
Nothing at all, they’re just different names for the same notes.
For example, a D flat is exactly the same note as a C sharp. When ascending a scale you will use sharps, and when descending you will use flats. Simple!
The distance between 2 whole notes is called a whole step, whereas the distance between a whole note and a sharp/flat note is called a half step.
Therefore, a sharp note is a half step above a whole note and a flat note is a half step below a whole note. Still pretty straightforward right?
To the Fretboard!
Now that you’re armed with some very basic music theory, let’s tackle the fretboard!
Assuming that you know the notes of the open strings (E – A – D – G – B – E) you really only need to learn frets 1-11 on each string.
This is because the notes will repeat themselves (an octave higher) from the twelfth fret onwards, so once you know the first 11 you automatically know the rest.
Less work is always good!
Start off by mastering the low E string – begin by learning only the whole notes to make memorizing easier, and then fill in the gaps later on.
The good news is that once you’ve conquered the Low E you’ve also automatically learned the high E string!
Keep in mind the note sequence mentioned above and take it one string at a time – before you know it you’ll have the entire fretboard under your belt!
Quick Tips for Memorizing Fretboard Notes
Memorizing the notes on the fretboard might seem overwhelming at first, but with a few strategies, you can make it manageable and even fun. Here are some quick tips to help you get started:
Learn the Natural Notes First: Focus on memorizing the natural notes (A, B, C, D, E, F, G) on each string before worrying about sharps and flats. Start with the open strings and the notes at the 5th and 12th frets, as these are easy reference points.
Use Octave Patterns: Recognize that notes repeat in octaves across the fretboard. For example, the note on the 6th string at the 5th fret is an A, and so is the note on the 5th string at the 12th fret. Learning these octave patterns can help you find notes more quickly.
Practice with Scales: Practicing scales is one of the best ways to get familiar with the fretboard. Start with simple scales like the major or minor scale and gradually move on to more complex ones. As you practice, pay attention to where the notes fall on each string.
Use Mnemonics: Mnemonics can help you remember the order of notes. For instance, the phrase “Every Acid Dealer Gets Busted Eventually” is a fun way to remember the standard tuning of E, A, D, G, B, and e.
Regular Practice: Consistency is key. Spend a few minutes each day working on a specific string or position on the fretboard. Over time, this repetition will help the notes stick in your memory.
Mastering my left-handed guitar fretboard notes diagram shouldn’t take too long and will help unlock your full potential as a guitarist. Start practicing today and watch your progress soar!
Hungry for more left-handed guitar tuition? Check out my Lessons Section!
A Sticky Version!
For a version of these diagrams that you can print out and stick directly onto your guitar’s fretboard, click the image above.
My printable guitar fretboard chart will really help speed up the learning process!
