What note does the 4th fret on the 5th (A) string produce?

• A. C
• B. C#
• C. B
• D. D

Answer: (B)

When you press down on the 4th fret of the 5th string, which is known as the A string, you are raising the pitch of the string from its open note, A, by four half steps.

To understand this better, you can break down the notes that follow sequentially from A:

• The first fret is A# (or Bb)

• The second fret is B

• The third fret is C

• The fourth fret is C# (or Db)

Since you count each fret as a half-step increase in pitch, reaching the 4th fret means you reach the note C#. This is why the correct answer is C#. Understanding this concept of half steps is fundamental to navigating the guitar fretboard effectively, as it allows you to predict the notes that occur on various frets and strings.