Learning the notes on the fretboard is essential for most if you want to be a complete guitarist. The images below show the fretboard notes for both right and left handed guitars from open string notes in standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E … thickest string to thinnest) to the notes on the 12th fret (one octave).

Right Handed Fretboard Notes

Left Handed Fretboard Notes

Why is it important?

Because you’ll know where to play in the song key and what will work musically.

Key Signatures

I II III IV V VI VII

I, IV, V are Major Chords
II, III, VI are Minor Chords
Don’t worry about the VII chord for now.

C D E F G A B C

G A B C D E F# G

D E F# G A B C# D

A B C# D E F# G# A

E F# G# A B C# D# E

B C# D# E F# G# A# B

Common Chord Progressions

I VI IV V I

I VI II V I

I III VI V I

For starters … Using an E-shape barre chord you be able to play all the chords in a key by knowing that the note on the 6th string is the root note and name of the major chord that your playing.

E-Shape Barre Chord – 1st Fret is an “F” – F Major Chord

For Minor chords, do not fret the G string.

I just wanted to present the guitar fretboard notes and give a quick overview of keys and chord progressions. If you want more details on this subject or have something to add that you think will be helpful to others, please post a comment.

For further study, read:
Unlocking Music on the Guitar with Fretboard Topography