What is the note at the 5th fret of the 1st string?

• A. C
• B. D
• C. E
• D. F

Answer: (C)

To determine the note at the 5th fret of the 1st string, it's important to understand the layout of the guitar fretboard. The 1st string, also known as the high E string, is tuned to the note E in standard tuning.

When you press down on the 5th fret of the 1st string, you raise the pitch of the open string by five semitones (or half steps). Starting from E at the open string:

• 1st fret: F

• 2nd fret: F#

• 3rd fret: G

• 4th fret: G#

• 5th fret: A

However, note that the correct note for the question must correspond to the on-fret note to answer correctly. The fifth fret actually corresponds to the note A, not E.

So while E would be the note found at the open string, the 5th fret of the 1st string results in A. This highlights the importance of knowing the pitch changes associated with frets on each string in order to determine the correct note in a systematic way.