How Many Strings Does a Guitar Have?

Most guitars consist of six strings. Around mid 1800s, the modern six-string classical guitar design was born with six strings and EADGBE tuning. Why EADGBE? The short answer is that the standard tuning is the most practical and comfortable way for your hands to play both chords and melodies, a conclusion reached centuries ago.

A Balancing Act

The standard tuning system balances several factors:

• Playing chords: How easy is it to play groups of notes?
• Playing melodies: Can melody lines be played without stretching too much?
• Use of open strings: How many keys and chords can use open strings?
• String flexibility and tension: How well can you bend the strings and how much tension is on the guitar body?

The Easiest Way to Begin Memorizing Guitar Notes and Strings with Acronyms

Starting with the thinnest, or 1st string, the order would be E-B-G-D-A-E. Here is a nice phrase to get you started:

• Every Body Go Down And Eat
• Elvis’ Big Great Dane Ate Everything

The six strings of a guitar can be thought of in descending or ascending order. The thickest string is called the 6th string. In standard guitar tuning, this is tuned to E and is often referred to as the “low E string,” meaning the lowest note you can play. Then moving down the fretboard, the 5th string (the A string) is tuned to A, the 4th string (D string) is tuned to D, the 3rd string (G string) is tuned to G, the 2nd string (B string) is tuned to B and the 1st string (high E string) is tuned to E.