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Stage 1 · Hold, Fret, Pick · 4 min

Six Open Strings

Play the six open strings from low E to high E. The coach waits for a stable note before moving on, and abstains when the room is too noisy to judge fairly.

Go to practice timer

First, tune your guitar

Use standard tuning: low E2, A2, D3, G3, B3, high E4. Check every string before playing. This tuner is free to use.

Choose your tuner
Select the string you are checking

Target: string 6, Low E (E2)

82.4 Hz · A4 = 440 Hz · open string, no fret pressed

The tuner will show the detected note and octave here.

Reference tones demonstrate pitch using a synthesized sound. Playback stops microphone capture and includes time for the sound to fade.

Pick a string, then start the tuner. Play one string at a time.

  1. Trace the selected string to its tuning peg before turning it. Peg directions differ between guitars.
  2. Pluck one string and make small adjustments. Recheck the correct octave if the reading is far away; stop if a string feels unusually tight.
  3. After the last adjustment, make another pass over all six strings. There is no speed requirement.
Confirm what you checked

These are your confirmations. Pitch readings never tick a box or award lesson completion for you.

Make yourself comfortable

  • Connect each string number and name with one deliberately picked open-string note.
Lesson references · sounds and diagrams

Find a string. Hear its pitch.

String 6 · E2 · open (fret 0)

String 6 is the thick low E. String 1 is the thin high E. Reference tuning: A4 = 440 Hz.

Synthesized reference pitch. Playing a reference stops microphone capture; let the sound fade before playing your own note.

Work through it

  1. Find before playingConfirm tuning first. Point to strings 6 through 1 and say Low E, A, D, G, B, High E. Leave your fretting fingers clear of the strings.

    Look: The selected label points to the actual string, including which E it means.

    Listen: Listen to an optional reference only before your own note.

  2. Sound one targetPluck the requested string once with a small stroke. Let it settle and ring; do not keep striking while waiting for pitch feedback.

    Look: The pick touches the requested string and the next string stays still.

    Listen: Hear one sustained note rather than two strings together.

  3. Reset between notesTouch the ringing string lightly to stop it, then move to the next requested string. If the result is uncertain, let the room go quiet and make one fresh attempt.

    Look: Check the next string name before moving.

    Listen: There is a short quiet gap between target notes.

Your practice blocks

Use these as a guide. Pause or repeat any block.

  1. 30 secCheck tuning and identify all six strings without playing.
  2. 90 secPlay 6–5–4–3–2–1 slowly, muting between notes; repeat if time allows.
  3. 60 secChoose the two strings you confused most and alternate between them with a quiet reset.
  4. 60 secMake a fresh low-to-high pass and note which string still needs review.
Your self-check

If it feels difficult

  • A neighboring string rings too. Mute the strings, place the pick against the target, and make a smaller stroke.
  • The pitch display jumps or does not settle. Stop other sounds and reference playback, check tuning and microphone access, then pluck once. Use your ears to check for extra ringing or buzz.

Ready for another step

You can complete the sequence at your own pace with deliberate string choices; replay any uncertain target.

Return to tuning if the target pitch remains wrong; repeat just the confused string pair otherwise.

What this check shows: Any available pitch feedback for the single notes in this attempt.

It does not assess: Steady tempo, fretting accuracy, fret buzz, or chord quality.

Keep your hand and shoulder relaxed. Stop and reset if you feel pain. Pitch feedback cannot judge tension, fingering, or buzzing.

Complete and confirm the free tuning check above to open the pitch exercise. You can use this tuner or your own.