The Secret Code.

     To identify an individual note we need to know two things, first on which string does it lie and second, on which fret does it lie? (The frets are those metal strips on the fingerboard of the guitar.)

The first string is the thinnest string.

The sixth string is the thickest string.

Every note is identified by a number.

The first part of the number tells me the string and the second part tells me which fret.

11 = 1st string + 1st fret.  13 = 1st string + 3rd fret.

Not all notes are fretted. We also have the six open strings.

10 = 1^st string + no frets.   (open)       

20 = 2^nd string + no frets.

30 = 3^rd string + no frets etc

Memory verse:

The strings always first,

the fret's always last.

Now play me a song,

Not too slow, not too fast.

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Example 1

Try playing the following notes;

10 21 23 30 - 30 23 10 21 (Door Chimes).

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Example 2

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you

30 30 32   30  21 20 - 30 30 32   30  23 21 -  

Happy birthday dear Ma-ry. Happy birthday to you.

30 30 13   10  21   20 32- 11 11 10   21  23 21 –

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Timing; Even if you do not know the tune, the words will give you a clue as to the length of each note. If the tune has no words then a note written like

23 gets a ½ beat,

23 gets 1 beat,  

23 – gets 2 beats and

23 - - gets 3 beats etc.

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Tuning: The strings are  E A D G B E

65 sounds like   50

55               40

45               30

34               20 This one is different from the rest.

25               10