Fretboard Fluency
Know every note on every string. The foundation of everything.
Interactive Fretboard
Click any fret to hear the note. Hover over a string to see all notes on that string.
The Six Strings
Standard tuning from lowest to highest: E-A-D-G-B-E. Click each string to learn more.
The Chromatic Scale on One String
Every fret moves exactly one half-step up the chromatic scale. This is true for ALL strings — the pattern never changes, only the starting note does.
The Pattern: Starting from E, each fret moves one half-step up the chromatic scale. Fret 1 = 1 half-step up. Fret 5 = 5 half-steps up. The 12th fret is always the same note you started with, exactly one octave higher (12 half-steps = 1 octave).
The B-G Kink
This is the single most important concept for understanding the guitar fretboard. Every adjacent string pair is 5 frets apart — except one.
E→A, A→D, D→G, and B→E are all 5 frets apart. This means the same note appears 5 frets higher on the next string down.
G→B is only 4 frets apart. This changes everything! The same note appears 4 frets higher on the B string, not 5.
Why This Matters
When a chord shape crosses the G-B boundary, the note on the B string needs to shift up 1 fret to maintain the same interval.
Scale fingerings that work on strings 6-4 need adjustment when moving to strings 2-1. The pattern "kinks" at the B string.
If you know a note on one string, you can find it on adjacent strings — but remember to subtract 1 fret when crossing from G to B.
Stage 1 Practice
Test your knowledge. Complete all challenges to unlock Stage 2.