Guitar Numbering Systems

Strings

Guitar strings are numbered 1 to 6. If each string had different note names then these particular numbers would probably not be essential. However we have two E strings, so one is string 1, the other string 6.

String Numbers

Frets

The frets as shown in the above illustration begin at 1.
'0' is reserved for the "nut" of the guitar.

Tabs

The Tab system uses the guitar fret numbers. The numbers are placed over the string to be played so it pinpoints where the fingertip is to be placed.

For an example of this see the page "Circle Of Sevenths" in the "Chords" menu section.

Fingers

The fingers are numbered 1 to 4. Fingering is not always given in the sheet music.

Degrees Of The Scale

The degrees of the scale are the sequential numbers 1 and upwards, starting from the first note of the scale. The advantage of having these is that you can specify a series of notes independent of the key of the piece.

An example would be in a band and the leader says that the melody line starts with 3 4 6 9, then, if the key were say D, then the melody notes referred to would be F#  G  B  E. If the key were then changed to G, then the melody line would still be 3 4 6 9, but the actual notes would be B  C  E  A.

Chord Names  I  II III  IV  V  VI  VII

These can be absolute names, like A7, but where independence from key is desirable they are given Roman numerals.

These Roman numerals are closely related to the degrees of the scale.

If you are in the key of F, the scale of F being F G A Bb C D E F, then the chord based on F (F  A  C) is numbered I;
the chord based on G (G  Bb  D) is numbered II;
the chord based on A (A  C  E) is numbered III;
the chord based on Bb (Bb  D  F) is numbered IV;
the chord based on C (C  E  G) is numbered V;
the chord based on D (D  F  A) is numbered VI;
the chord based on E (E  G  Bb) is numbered VII.

The result of this is a band leader can say that the chords of the next song are I  III  V  I etc, and the sequence will apply to any key.

Why would he bother to say that ?  Well he may have instruments in the group that are not tuned to C. An example is the trumpet - the 'middle C' on trumpet sheet music is actually B flat on the guitar or piano.

So the leader gives out the chord numbers, and lets the band know what key they will be playing in, and he lets the trumpet player sort out for himself what notes he plays (while the trumpet player just hopes he doesn't end up playing in 6 flats! )

This is a simplified description. There is a lot more to it of course. Chord names will be dealt with in more detail on another page of the site.