What are guitar positions?

A guitar position is defined by which fret the index finger (1st finger) covers. In 1st position, the index finger handles the 1st fret across all strings. In 5th position, the index finger is at the 5th fret — so the four fingers cover frets 5, 6, 7, and 8. Moving between positions allows access to all notes on the entire neck.

What note is at the 12th fret on each string?

The 12th fret produces exactly the same note as the open string, one octave higher. String 6 open = low E, string 6 fret 12 = E one octave up. String 1 open = high E, string 1 fret 12 = E two octaves above the 6th string open. This octave relationship repeats throughout the neck — fret 13 is the same as fret 1, fret 14 = fret 2, and so on.

What are leger lines in guitar music?

Leger lines are short extra lines added above or below the main stave to accommodate notes that are too high or low to sit within the five lines. Notes above the highest stave line (F) need leger lines. The first leger line above the stave carries the note B. The space above it carries C. The second leger line carries D, and so on.

How do I find any note on the guitar neck?

Start from the open string note (E, A, D, G, B, E from 6th to 1st). Each fret raises the pitch by one semitone. Count up the letter names: E-F-F#-G-G#-A-A#-B-C-C#-D-D#-E... For string 2 (B): fret 1=C, fret 2=C#, fret 3=D, fret 4=D#, fret 5=E, and so on. After 12 frets, the note name repeats.

Should I learn the notes all over the neck?

Yes — knowing the note names everywhere on the neck is a significant milestone. Start by learning the notes on the 6th and 5th strings (useful for finding barre chord roots), then the 1st and 2nd strings. Work through one string per week, saying the note names aloud as you play each fret. Most professional guitarists know every note on the neck without thinking.

Playing Guitar Higher Up the Neck — Positions, Notes & Fingerboard Map

Beyond First Position

Everything you have played so far has been in first position — the first four frets. The guitar neck extends to the 12th, 15th, even 20th fret. Playing in higher positions gives you access to notes unavailable in first position, different tonal colours on the same pitches, and the ability to play melodies and solos anywhere on the neck.

Higher up the fretboard, the frets get closer together (the vibrating string is shorter) and the tone quality changes — becoming brighter and more focused. Many guitarists find certain melodies sound more beautiful played in the 5th or 7th position than in first position, even when the same notes are available in both places.

Understanding Positions

A position is defined by where the index finger sits. The four fingers cover four consecutive frets from that starting point:

1st Position

Index = fret 1. Fingers cover frets 1-2-3-4. All the notes in this course so far have been here.

2nd Position

Index = fret 2. Fingers cover frets 2-3-4-5. Some notes overlap with 1st position, others are new.

5th Position

Index = fret 5. Fingers cover frets 5-6-7-8. Used by lead guitarists constantly — the 5th position on string 1 matches open chord pitch areas.

9th Position

Index = fret 9. Fingers cover frets 9-10-11-12. Produces a bright, piercing tone often used in solos.

The 12th Fret — The Octave Point

The most important reference point above first position is the 12th fret. At the 12th fret, every string sounds exactly one octave higher than the same open string. This means:

String 6 (low E) at fret 12 = E, one octave above open
String 5 (A) at fret 12 = A, one octave above open
And so on for all six strings

From fret 12 onward, the entire note pattern repeats identically. Fret 13 has the same note name as fret 1, fret 14 = fret 2, fret 15 = fret 3. Once you know first position notes, you know frets 12–24 as well.

✦ The Octave Rule

To find the note at any fret above 12: subtract 12 from the fret number and look up the first-position note at that fret number. Fret 17 on string 1 = same as fret 5 on string 1 = A (one octave higher).

Notes on the 6th and 5th Strings — Essential for Lead Guitar

Knowing the notes on the 6th and 5th strings up the entire neck is particularly important because these strings are used as the root notes for barre chords (covered in the next lesson). Here are the natural notes:

String 6 (E): open=E, fret 2=F#, fret 3=G, fret 5=A, fret 7=B, fret 8=C, fret 10=D, fret 12=E
String 5 (A): open=A, fret 2=B, fret 3=C, fret 5=D, fret 7=E, fret 8=F, fret 10=G, fret 12=A

Leger Lines Above the Stave

When notes go above the top line (F) of the stave, short extra lines called leger lines are added to accommodate them. In guitar music, these appear frequently when playing higher up the neck:

First leger line above stave = B
Space above first leger line = C
Second leger line = D
Space above second leger line = E

When you encounter an unfamiliar note above the stave in music you are reading, count up from the last known position (F on the top stave line) using the letter sequence: F-G-A-B-C-D-E-F...

How to Work Out Any Note on the Neck

For any string, count up from the open string note — one semitone (one letter or accidental) per fret. The complete sequence of semitones is:

E — F — F# — G — G# — A — A# — B — C — C# — D — D# — E (repeat)

Use this sequence starting from any open string note to find the name of any note at any fret. For example, string 3 open = G. Fret 1 = G#. Fret 2 = A. Fret 4 = B. Fret 5 = C. And so on.

⚠ Learn Strings 6 and 5 First

The most immediately useful notes to memorise above first position are on the 6th and 5th strings — because these are used as root note references for barre chords in the next lesson. Start there before memorising the entire neck.

What's Next?

Lesson 32 teaches barre chords — the moveable chord shapes that use your index finger across all six strings, allowing you to play any chord in any key anywhere on the neck.