How To Remember Guitar Strings (From An Expert Who's Done It)

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I wish I’d had the simple method for remembering guitar strings you’re about to learn when I was first getting started.

The best way to rapidly remember all six strings on a standard guitar involves using a highly specific association based on a popular figure who is already in your memory.

For example, Ernie from Sesame Street for the E string, Adam Sandler for the A string, etc.

There’s a bit more nuance to the best technique than this, but rest assured that I’ve got your back.

And I think you’re going to love my approach to music mnemonic over all, especially if you’re fed up with bizarre acronyms for learning your guitar string order while just getting started.

I don’t blame you if the examples you’ve seen make no sense or fail to work.

I mean…

“Eat All Day Get Big Easy” is okay and could work, but…

You have to memorize an utterly meaningless phrase in order for this kind of wishy-washy mnemonic to work!

Personally, I find the problem of meaninglessness with almost every music acronym I’ve seen. Due to their typically generic nature, acronyms are amongst the weakest of all memory techniques.

There’s a much better way to learn all of your guitar strings by name quickly. On this page and in the video below, I’ll show you how.

Now, why should you believe that my approach is better than every other guitar string mnemonic out there?

Good question.

Not only am I an internationally respected memory expert, but in the video below, you’ll see me playing a fairly complex composition on guitar:

I play bass too.

I had to memorize the names of my strings and much more to be able to play music like this:

Anyhow, I share those examples of my guitar playing not to brag.

I just thought you might like some proof that a real human is teaching you what I believe to be the best mnemonic device for guitar strings. And I thought you’d like to know that I’m someone who can actually play with a decent amount of skill.

So if you’re ready to learn an easy way to remember the strings on a guitar, let’s get started.

How to Remember Guitar Strings: The Ultimate Guitar String Mnemonic

The absolute easiest way to remember the guitar strings involves using two simple systems:

• The pegword method
• The guitar itself as a Memory Palace

I know that it might feel onerous to learn a different skill before learning the names of your guitar strings.

Rest assured, taking a step back will be worth it. And the pegword method is very simple. That’s because it’s a highly visual memory technique that gives you a sticky image for each letter of the alphabet.

The best part is that if you do it using the Magnetic Memory Method, all of those images are already in your memory. This means that you reduce cognitive load during the learning process.

Here’s what I mean:

Rather than creating an acronym or sentence for the guitar strings, start with your fattest string and call it Ernie or perhaps Eminem.

In my case, I use Ernie from Sesame Street. But you could use Einstein or any other other person you find interesting and who is already in your memory for learning the name of this string.

No matter who you use, the point is to link a clear and obvious association based on the letter “E” which is the name of the note this string plays in standard tuning. And by using highly dynamic figures that are already familiar to you, they’re easier to remember and imagine performing various actions that apply to learning other aspects of music.

Where to Place Your Mnemonics for the Strings

You can place your associations using your imagination either on the tuning peg, the string itself, or both.

If you change the tuning, such as down to drop-D, then Ernie can easily become Dracula using this method.

Again, the reason we’re using characters drawn from popular culture like Ernie for E and Dracula for D is that they’re familiar and dynamic. You can easily imagine them interacting.

So once you have your E-string mnemonic decided, simply assign each string a different character from pop culture. My associations from lowest to highest are:

• Ernie
• Al Pacino
• Dracula
• Grover
• Bob (from what about Bob)
• Ernie (as a baby)

More Mnemonic Examples For the Guitar Strings Thin to Thick

Now, I know that my personal examples might not resonate with you. And you might not have time to go through my full mnemonics dictionary to become a master of memory techniques.

So here are a few music examples you might consider selecting from:

• The Ernie Ball logo for the low E-string
• Chet Atkins for the A-string
• Dimebag Darrel from Pantera for the D-string
• Vince Gil for the G-string
• Buckethead for the B-string
• Elvis Costello for the high E-string

If none of these possible mnemonic associations work, you can try a simple exercise:

Write out E-A-D-G-B-E on a piece of paper.

Then brainstorm and list as many possible people, objects and verbs as you can imagine.

Exaggerate Your Associations for Each String

Later, come back to the strings and elaborate each association that you’ve come up with.

For example, Elvis Costello eating an eel at the location of the high E-string on your instrument is bound to help forge an unforgettable associations.

Let’s look more deeply at how to combine the associations for the names of the strings with their exact location on your guitar.

How to Memorize The Strings In Order

To remember the strings in the exact order they are arranged in standard tuning, you can use either the story method,  linking or a combination of both.

Again, this approach is superior to acronyms because it harnesses the power of active recall. That’s because using music mnemonics like the ones you’re discovering now involve personalization and variety. Any time you get your life and your autobiographical memory involved in a learning task, you increase your speed of retention.

Also, following a story based on links makes the order inherently memorable. That’s because the details follow a logical order that stimulates recall.

For example:

• E-string Ernie throws an elephant at Al Pacino
• Al Pacino assassinates the attacker and bites Dracula
• Dracula shoots his fangs at Grover
• Grover runs over Bob
• Bob breaks baby-Ernie’s toys

This approach is beautiful because you can extend it to memorizing the entire fretboard as well.

And in case you’re learning to play a 7 or 8-string guitar, you just need to add a few more figures to make sure they’re included.

Using Flashcards in Combination with Mnemonics to Learn the Guitar String Notes

Another option you can pursue, especially if you’re struggling to force associations in your imagination (some people have aphantasia), involves using my flashcard methodology.

This strategy is good for adults and kids alike. It’s also a lot more portable than carrying a guitar with you everywhere while memorizing the string names and their order. You can even photograph your cards and port them into Anki for review and use other strategies covered in my full guide to Anki for learning.

Starting with physical cards, the process is simple:

• Get six index cards
• Sketch a simple drawing on each
• Review the cards and test your accuracy

Here’s an example of the low E-string followed by a discussion of the exact strategy:

Now, you’ll note in the flashcard example above that I’m not an artist.

But you should be able to perceive something like a grey elephant to represent the letter E. I’ve chosen an elephant for the low-E string because elephants are heavy.

The arrow points to a sketch of a guitar and the tuning peg of the low-E string has been colored red.

If you use a strategy like this, you just need to mentally decode why there’s an elephant and why it’s pointing to a particular string.

On the card for the A-string, you can draw an apple and have it point to the A turning peg, and carry on from there.

Add Spaced Repetition to the Learning Process for Faster Retention

Here’s another great thing about using cards to help you visualize the tuning pegs without creating cognitive overload:

You can mix your cards up and test your memory by revising them in different orders.

As a result of changing the order while testing your memory, you’ll get the benefits of what learning and memory experts call “serial positioning.” It’s part of a larger memory strategy called spaced repetition that is well worth learning.

To use it for this strategy, test your knowledge by reviewing the cards on day one, then again a few hours later. Over time, extend the reviews you perform.

Soon, you’ll have locked all six strings into your memory.

Frequently Asked Questions About Remembering the Guitar Strings in Standard Tuning (EADGBE)

I’ve receiving many questions about learning music over the years.

Here are some of the most common questions with detailed answers that will ensure your success with this learning task.

How do you remember the guitar strings?

The easiest way to make the process fast, fun and simple is to use a highly personal mnemonic, rather than a borrowed or generic one.

You will also help yourself if you pick a direction, either up or down, rather than leaping around randomly.

As you’re drilling the names in, it’s helpful to pluck the string and sing the note at the same time (this is generally a good practice while learning the fretboard too).

What are the guitar string names in order?

In standard tuning, they are:

• From thickest to thinnest (low to high): E – A – D – G – B – E.
• From thinnest to thickest (high to low): E – B – G – D – A – E.

What does EADGBE stand for on the guitar?

These letters list the order of the strings from the lowest open note to the highest.

EADGBE refers specifically to six string guitars in standard tuning.

What’s an easy mnemonic for EADGBE?

In my experience teaching memory techniques for over fifteen years, it’s not always about easy.

The most effective and long-lasting mnemonic will be the one you create for yourself using personal associations.

Even if a popular one like “Every Amateur Does Get Better Eventually,” helps you out, please consider learning much more specific mnemonic strategies.

A small amount of effort now will help you learn the fretboard, chords, phrases and music theory later.

Why are there two E strings on a guitar?

Although these two strings play the same note, they are in different pitches.

This gives the instrument a much wider range and makes a wide number of chords possible for the human hand to shape with relative ease.

If you have any further questions, feel free to drop them in the comment section below or get in touch via my contact page. I love helping people with their questions about all aspects of music and memory.

Meaning is the Key To A Successful Guitar String Mnemonic

If there’s one important takeaway here, it is that guitar string acronyms are not very good mnemonic devices. Certainly not compared to using pop culture characters that have been in your mind for a long time.

All memory techniques that are worth their salt rely on the principle of association based on preexisting mental imagery.

And like a good song lyric, using a story is one of the most memorable things you can do for both bass and guitar.

If you need more help with making rapid associations, get my FREE Memory Improvement Course:

It will help you apply these techniques to your guitar and to anything else you want to learn faster.

So what do you say?

Are you ready to drop the torturous guitar string acronym method and make it much simpler?

Give it a try and I’ll bet you find using celebrities that are already in your memory have you mastering your guitar strings in minutes, rather than hours.

The best part?

The same mnemonic principle you’ve just learned will help you remember all kinds of other things that come up in life. I’ll always have a soft spot for music in my heart, but why stop here when there are so many other wonderful skills and types of knowledge to master through the same deliberate practice musicians use?

Play on!

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