6 string bass notes fretboard diagram
Memorizing the notes on a 6-string bass
The standard tuning for a 6-string bass guitar, from the lowest to the highest string, is B–E–A–D–G–C.
Start by memorizing the names of the open-string notes in the middle: E-A-D-G. These are the 4 open-string notes on a standard 4-string bass.
Next, memorize the name of the lowest string: B. Then, memorize the name of the highest string: C.
Now that you have the open string names memorized, you can learn the notes on the fretboard.
Start by memorizing the names of the natural notes on the middle 4 strings.
From there, learn the natural note names on the low B string, then learn the natural note names of the high C string.
The easiest way to memorize natural note names is:
- Pick a single string (The E string, for example
- Say the natural note names out loud on the single string
- Play the natural notes on the single string
Do this for all 6 strings every day of the week, which will take you less than 5 minutes a day. If you want to improve your progress, do the exercise for 10 minutes a day. Do this for 1 or 2 weeks, and you’ll have the natural note names memorized.
You'll instantly know where the sharps and flats are on your bass fretboard once you've memorized the natural note names.
That’s it!
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