There are many memory aids to help a guitarist learn the notes on the fretboard. Included in this article are simple acronyms to help one learn some of the notes on the guitar quickly. The acronyms are only suggestions and a guitarist should try creating their own. Acronyms do not have to make any sense. They are only used to help one learn and to recall some of the notes along the fretboard. It is a great way for a novice to become familiar with some of the note placements in Standard Tuning, among others.
Guitar Notes on the Open Strings
Open Strings: A few acronyms one can use to memorize the notes of the six open guitar strings are shown below -- starting from the sixth string (thickest string) and proceeding to the first string (thinnest string):
Elephants And Donkeys Grow Big Ears
Eagles And Dinosaurs Grow Big Eggs
Every Architect Designs Great Building Examples
The first letter of each word represents the note or pitch of each open guitar string, that is: E, A, D, G, B, E. This sequence of notes is Standard Tuning.
Guitar Notes on the Third and Fifth Frets
Third Fret: The following acronyms denote the notes on the third fret. The word in parenthesis “ABandoned” or "ABility" denotes the note before and the note after the third fret on the third string. That is, A on the second fret and B on the forth fret. The actual note on the third fret and on the third string is either called an A sharp or a B flat. This in an Enharmonic note, which has two names for the same pitch (see link below -- Acronyms for the Guitar Notes).
Good Children Finish (ABandoned) Dinner Goose
Good Children Find (ABility) Doing Good
Fifth Fret: Two acronyms are listed for the notes on the fifth fret. The first acronym shows all the notes along the fifth fret; However, the second acronym shows the note F, which is on the sixth fret of the second string, denoted as (--Feet). A close look at the notes on the guitar fretboard should make this clear (see link below).
All Ducks Get Cool Every Autumn
Arctic Dogs Get Cold (--Feet) Always
Guitar Notes on the Seventh and Tenth Frets
Seventh Fret: The acronym for the notes on the seventh fret also include an Enharmonic note as was the case for the third fret above. The "Feel Good" phase represents the Enharmonic note F sharp or G flat.
Big Eagles And Dinosaurs (Feel Good) Big
Buy Everything At Discount (Feel Good) Bargains
Tenth Fret: The suggested acronyms for the tenth fret do not involve any Enharmonic notes. The following acronyms are suggested as a memory aide:
Dan Got Cold Fries And Drink
Doctor Gish Can Fish All Day
The acronyms above are only suggestions. A novice guitarist should develop their own acronyms and expand on them, if they find this method useful. It helps to learn the notes along the fretboard Markers. It is also helpful to learn the Line of Fifths, which serves as an additional way of learning the notes along the fretboard. Moreover, scale note patterns can be learned later to fill in the additional areas of the guitar fretboard.
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