So, the next topic that we want to talk about are the strings of the Guitar. The guitar, of course, is the stringed instrument, so this might be the most important part. In the previous lessons we mentioned, that the strings are fastened on the body of the guitar, at the Bridge. Up on Headstock, they are fastened to the Tuning Posts. And, when you pluck a string, it vibrates, and that is how we get the sound. Strings are made of different materials, and certain guitars need certain types of strings. That is an important detail that we are going to cover when we talk about the stringing the guitar. For now, we're going to talk about what is common to all guitars, and that is the numbering system, and the naming system. Most guitars have six strings, and the 6th string is actually the thickest string. It is the one that is closest to the ceilings. So, that is right here [Points to the thickest string]. So, this is the 6th string. The one that is closest to the floor, the littlest string, or the skinniest string, is the 1st string. The strings are numbered: 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1. That is the easy part. The names - this is a little harder to remember. In our musical language different pitches are given different names, and that is how we can tell them apart.

• The 6th string, the thick one, is the E string.
• The 5th string is the A string.
• The 4th string is the D string.
• The 3rd string is the G string.
• The 2nd string is B string.
• The 1st string, which is the one closest to the floor, is another E string.

You will notice that the 6th string and the 1st string are both E strings, but they sound pretty different. The thing you can say to help remember the names of the strings is: Elephants And Dogs Got Big Ears. That will help remind you of the names of different strings. So, those are the strings of the instrument.

Do the string numbers really matter? Yes. It is important to memorize the strings in the correct order, where the string closest to the ceiling is the 6th string and the string closet to the floor is the 1st string. This is one of those universal facts that help us guitarists communicate clearly with one another. For example, when you are using guitar tabs or chord charts to learn a new song, they will use the string numbers as described in this video. Does the color of the strings matter? Yes. Some are copper colored and some are silver. String are made of different materials. Acoustic guitar strings vary widely, including bronze, steel, and nickel. The color will also be different, based on the different materials. Electric guitar strings tend to be made of steel and/or nickel, both having silver colorings. Also, as your strings get older, the silver strings will start to turn dark. When they start to turn black in color, it's time to change your strings.