The Essentials: Notes count alphabetically from A to G

In western music, notes are written out as the letters A - G. The notes proceed alphabeticall as you would expect. After you get to G, the notes cycle back to A but a higher-pitched version, also known as an octave As you move down the fret board towards the bridge and body, you cycle down the notes. An E is, therefore, higher up the fret board than an F, and a G, and then the octave of the original A.

• The note on the scale before is considered lower. So a B is lower than the next C, and C is lower than D two frets down.
• The note that occurs next is a higher note. An E is a higher note than the earlier D.