Guitar Fretboard Reference
Triads
Guitar · 6 stringsThree notes, four string sets, three inversions. Learn to name the note on the top string instantly and the fretboard stops being a set of grips and becomes a map.
Quality
String set
Solid borders are closed sets; dashed are spread voicings, which re-voice a closed shape by dropping its middle voice an octave.
Spread voicings are best left until the closed shapes on strings 1-2-3 and 2-3-4 are fluent — learned earlier they just become three more grips, which is the habit this section exists to break. You are 0 of 12 of the way there.
Inversion
C — Root position
Strings 1-2-3 (top set) · the 5 on top
Note on top
Voices
- str 3 fr 5 C 1
- str 2 fr 5 E 3
- str 1 fr 3 G 5top
- Frets
- 5 · 5 · 3
- Span
- 2 frets
The workhorse. Cuts through a full band without adding mud, because acoustic and bass already own everything below it.
Root, major 3rd, perfect 5th. The bright, resolved sound almost every other triad is measured against.
All the way up the neck
The same three shapes, repeating. Watch the top note walk 5 → 1 → 3 as the inversion changes — that is the whole system in one picture.