What note is played on the A string at the 5th fret?

• A. D
• B. D#
• C. E
• D. F

Answer: (D)

The note played on the A string at the 5th fret is E. On a standard-tuned guitar, the A string is the fifth string. When you press down on the 5th fret of this string, you change the pitch of the open A note (which is the 5th string played without any frets) to E. This is because the notes on the fretboard follow a specific pattern as you move up the frets.

Starting from A (the open string), the notes progress in half steps as follows: A (open), A# (1st fret), B (2nd fret), C (3rd fret), C# (4th fret), and finally E at the 5th fret, completing the notes in the sequence. The pattern of whole and half steps is essential in understanding how to identify notes on the fretboard correctly. Thus, pressing the 5th fret on the A string results in the E note being produced.