How many octaves are on a guitar?

A standard 24-fret guitar covers 4 octaves. The notes repeat every 12 frets.

Does the pattern change in different tunings?

Yes, the relationships between strings change, but the chromatic order of notes on any single string (A, A#, B, C...) always stays the same.

Learning the notes on the guitar fretboard is one of the best investments you can make for your musicianship. Here are a few tips:

Learn the Open Strings: E, A, D, G, B, E. (An acronym like "Eddie Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddie" helps!)
Find the Octaves: The 12th fret is exactly one octave higher than the open string. The notes repeat.
Use Reference Points: The dots on frets 3, 5, 7, and 9 guide you. For example, the 5th fret of the Low E string is A.
Memorize Scales: Learning scales helps you map out the "safe notes" in any key.

String	Open Note	5th Fret	12th Fret
1 (Thinnest)	E	A	E
2	B	E	B
3	G	C	G
4	D	G	D
5	A	D	A
6 (Thickest)	E	A	E

String

Open Note

5th Fret

12th Fret

1 (Thinnest)

6 (Thickest)