🎸 Why Every Guitarist Should Learn the Notes on the 6th String

Most guitarists start by learning a few chords and songs using chord charts and tabs — and while that’s a great way to get started, it often leaves them stuck, relying on memorized shapes rather than true understanding. If you want to level up your playing, unlock the fretboard, and actually understand what you’re doing, the first step is simple: learn the notes on the 6th string.

Here’s why that one string can unlock your entire fretboard.

📍 How To Learn the Fretboard (3 Simple Rules)

Learning the fretboard doesn’t have to be overwhelming. All you need to know are these 3 basic rules:

Rule 1: The Musical Alphabet
The musical alphabet goes: A B C D E F G — and then it starts over again at A. That’s it! Only 7 letters. No H, no Z, no weird symbols.

Rule 2: The Buddy Notes
There are only two pairs of notes that are right next to each other on the fretboard with no gap between them:

E & F
B & C

Every other note has a 1-fret gap (which is a sharp or flat in between)

Rule 3: Notes Repeat Every 12 Frets
Once you reach the 12th fret, the entire musical alphabet starts again. So if you’re on an E at the open string, you’ll also find an E at fret 12, fret 24, and so on.

With these rules, you can start figuring out every note on the 6th string just by counting up from E at the open string.

💥 Reason 2: Power Chords Become Instant

Power chords are built off the root note — and guess where most people play them? That’s right, the 6th string. Once you know the notes on that string, you can instantly shift your power chords to any key without having to guess or look it up.

Instead of memorizing 12 different versions of a chord, you just move your shape to the right fret. Boom — power chords unlocked.

🎸 Reason 3: Master Bar Chords Anywhere

Once you learn the major and minor bar chord shapes, you can play any chord just by moving the shape to the right spot on the 6th string.

Want an F major? 1st fret on the 6th string.
Want a G minor? 3rd fret on the 6th string, minor shape.

This turns your guitar into a fully moveable instrument — you’re no longer stuck playing only the open chords you learned at the beginning.

🔑 Reason 4: Scales Become Moveable

One of the coolest things about learning scales on guitar is that you don’t need to learn a new pattern for every key — you just move the shape.

And how do you know where to move it? You guessed it — the 6th string.

Want to play the A minor pentatonic? Start at fret 5.
Need C minor? Slide up to fret 8.

Once you know where the root note is, scales become plug-and-play.

🎬 Wrap-Up

Don’t waste another year just copying chord charts and wondering why things don’t make sense.

Learn the notes on the 6th string and everything else will start to click — chords, scales, jamming, improvisation… all of it.

🎥 I break it all down in this quick video — check it out here: https://youtu.be/UnARAJke8sc

About the Author

Michael Gumley is the founder of Melbourne Guitar Academy and one of Australia’s leading guitar educators. With over a decade of experience teaching beginner, intermediate, and advanced players, Michael specialises in helping students become confident, capable musicians.
If you’re looking for high-quality Guitar Lessons in Melbourne that actually get results, Michael and his team are here to help you succeed.