Note Ninja
Materials

Hints & Mnemonics

Memory hooks for the quizzes and the fretboard.

Chord Notes keywords

Each keyword spells the major triad from its root.

RootKeywordMajor triad
CKegC E G
DDarfaD F# A
EE gee beeE G# B
FFACEF A C
GGet bendG B D
AAceA C# E
BBed ifB D# F#

Note locations

Experimental

Directions are as you look down at the guitar while playing: the low E string is on top, so “below” means the next thinner string and “above” the next thicker one, on the same fret. The fretboards draw high E on top; each note keeps its colour wherever it appears.

The note directly below

Same fret, next thinner string: a fourth up (5 semitones). From G to B it is a major third (4 semitones), so there the answer is one fret lower than usual.

Known noteBelowBelow G (on B)Mnemonic
CFECaFe
DGF#DoG
EAG#EAt
FA#AFAb — F climbs to A# (B♭)
GCBGeCko
ADC#ADd
BED#BEe
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
E
B
G
D
A
E
B
C#
D#
E
F#
G#
A
B
G
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
A#
C
D
E
F
G
A
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
E

The note directly above

Same fret, next thicker string: a fourth down (5 semitones). From B to G it is a major third (4 semitones), so there the answer is one fret higher than usual.

Known noteAboveAbove B (on G)Mnemonic
CGG#CoG
DAA#DAd
EBCEBay
FCC#FaCt
GDD#GooD
AEFAcE
BF#GBuFF — B picks up a sharp: F#
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
E
B
G
D
A
E
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
G
G#
A#
C
C#
D#
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
E
F#
G
A
B
C
D
E

Same note on other strings

Every shape from the known note (yellow) to the same note on another string (green), up to 8 frets away. Whenever a shape crosses the gap between the G and B strings, the target moves one fret up.

Same string · 12 frets up
1 octave up · any string · Twelve up the same string — the double dots.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
E
B
G
D
A
E
F#
F#
1 string thinner · 5 frets back
Same pitch · B → high E, D → G, A → D, low E → A · Five back, one string over — the way you tune.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
E
B
G
D
A
E
F#
F#
1 string thinner · 4 frets back
Same pitch · G → B · G to B is the odd pair: only four back.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
E
B
G
D
A
E
C#
C#
1 string thinner · 7 frets up
1 octave up · B → high E, D → G, A → D, low E → A · Lucky seven: next string, seven up.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
E
B
G
D
A
E
C#
C#
1 string thinner · 8 frets up
1 octave up · G → B · Over the B bump: eight up.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
E
B
G
D
A
E
A
A
2 strings thinner · 2 frets up
1 octave up · A → G, low E → D · Two-two: two strings over, two frets up.
1
2
3
4
5
E
B
G
D
A
E
B
B
2 strings thinner · 3 frets up
1 octave up · G → high E, D → B · Crossing the G–B gap adds one: two strings, three up.
1
2
3
4
5
6
E
B
G
D
A
E
A
A
3 strings thinner · 3 frets back
1 octave up · low E → G · Three-three back: three strings over, three frets back.
1
2
3
4
5
6
E
B
G
D
A
E
A
A
3 strings thinner · 2 frets back
1 octave up · D → high E, A → B · Crossing the G–B gap adds one: three strings, two back.
1
2
3
4
5
E
B
G
D
A
E
F#
F#
4 strings thinner · 7 frets back
1 octave up · A → high E, low E → B · Four strings over, seven back.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
E
B
G
D
A
E
F#
F#
4 strings thinner · 5 frets up
2 octaves up · A → high E, low E → B · Four strings over, five up — two octaves.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
E
B
G
D
A
E
B
B
5 strings thinner · same fret
2 octaves up · low E → high E · Low E to high E: same fret, two octaves apart.
1
2
3
E
B
G
D
A
E
F#
F#