Here are the frequencies of all the strings on a standard 6-string guitar in standard tuning (EADGBE), showing the open string (fret 0) and notes up to the 12th fret (one octave higher):
6th String (E2, 82.41 Hz)
Fret
Note
Frequency (Hz)
0
E2
82.41
1
F
87.31
2
F#
92.50
3
G
98.00
4
G#
103.83
5
A
110.00
6
A#
116.54
7
B
123.47
8
C
130.81
9
C#
138.59
10
D
146.83
11
D#
155.56
12
E3
164.81
5th String (A2, 110.00 Hz)
Fret
Note
Frequency (Hz)
0
A2
110.00
1
A#
116.54
2
B
123.47
3
C
130.81
4
C#
138.59
5
D
146.83
6
D#
155.56
7
E
164.81
8
F
174.61
9
F#
185.00
10
G
196.00
11
G#
207.65
12
A3
220.00
4th String (D3, 146.83 Hz)
Fret
Note
Frequency (Hz)
0
D3
146.83
1
D#
155.56
2
E
164.81
3
F
174.61
4
F#
185.00
5
G
196.00
6
G#
207.65
7
A
220.00
8
A#
233.08
9
B
246.94
10
C
261.63
11
C#
277.18
12
D4
293.66
3rd String (G3, 196.00 Hz)
Fret
Note
Frequency (Hz)
0
G3
196.00
1
G#
207.65
2
A
220.00
3
A#
233.08
4
B
246.94
5
C
261.63
6
C#
277.18
7
D
293.66
8
D#
311.13
9
E
329.63
10
F
349.23
11
F#
369.99
12
G4
392.00
2nd String (B3, 246.94 Hz)
Fret
Note
Frequency (Hz)
0
B3
246.94
1
C
261.63
2
C#
277.18
3
D
293.66
4
D#
311.13
5
E
329.63
6
F
349.23
7
F#
369.99
8
G
392.00
9
G#
415.30
10
A
440.00
11
A#
466.16
12
B4
493.88
1st String (E4, 329.63 Hz)
Fret
Note
Frequency (Hz)
0
E4
329.63
1
F
349.23
2
F#
369.99
3
G
392.00
4
G#
415.30
5
A
440.00
6
A#
466.16
7
B
493.88
8
C
523.25
9
C#
554.37
10
D
587.33
11
D#
622.25
12
E5
659.26
🎸
The formula for calculating the frequencies of musical notes on a guitar or any other musical instrument is based on the equal temperament tuning system, which divides an octave into 12 equal parts (semitones).
Formula:
Components:
fn – The frequency of the note at the n-th fret.
f0 – The frequency of the open string (fret 0). For the 6th string, f0 = 82.4 Hz.
n – The number of frets from the open string (e.g., n = 1 for the 1st fret, n = 12 for the 12th fret).
2n/12 – The factor by which the frequency increases as you move n frets up.
In equal temperament tuning, moving up 12 frets doubles the frequency (an octave).
Therefore, for each fret, the frequency increases by the 12th root of 2 ≈ 1.059463.
Step-by-Step Explanation:
Octave Relationship:
Doubling the frequency raises the note by one octave.
Example: Open E2 is 82.41 Hz, and at the 12th fret (one octave higher), the note E3 is 82.41 × 2 = 164.8282
Dividing the Octave:
In the equal temperament system, the octave is divided into 12 semitones.
Each semitone increases the frequency by the 12th root of 2 ≈ 1.059463
General Formula for Any Fret:
For nn frets, the frequency is scaled by 2n/12
Multiply this factor by the frequency of the open string (f0) to get the frequency at the n-th fret.