Any note position on the first four frets of the guitar can be found using the flats and sharps relationships on the C major scale fingering position.

Confusion arises when trying to find out the notes : Eb (near the first two strings), Bb, Gb, Db, Ab, Eb (near the 6th string).

These are the notes on the open strings; the notes on the edge of the guitar, beyond which only the nut prevents our fingers from falling onto the headstock of the guitar, the land of tuning pegs and other machinery.

Fretboard relationships – adjacent strings

From top to bottom of the image, the open strings are (E B G D A E) in standard guitar tuning.

The green dot on the top most line, shows the open note on the first string – E. The same note is found on the 5th fret of the 2nd string.

This means that, to find Eb, the note one half step below the open first string, we just need to find the note one half step below the 5th fret of the 2nd string.

Similarly, the 2nd string open note is B. The B note is found on 3rd string 4th fret too. So if you need to play the Bb note, play it on the 3rd fret of the 3rd string – one fret to the left of the B on the 3rd string.

Use the diagram to understand the relationship between adjacent strings. Use this understanding to play flat notes for the open string notes.

Thus the knowledge of Fretboard Baggins, i mean, fretboard relations has solved the confusion for us.

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