What are the different guitar octaves called?

Most electric guitars I'm familar with have something like 3-1/2 to 4 octaves. How do verbally identify them. Are the octaves numbered? For example, how would I refer to the G note on the 6th string 3rd fret as opposed to the G note on the 12th fret of the 1st string? For example, is it G1 and G4?

This came up because I was trying to figure out my vocal range and found that I can pretty much sing the notes from G on the 6th string 3rd fret to the open G on the 3rd string. I can kind of go up another octave but it's not very pretty. Soon after the open G, there's a qualitative shift in how I'm singing (like maybe it's head vs chest or something), and straining a bit and stretching my head up and out like a heron swallowing a fish. I assume this is relevent to whether or not I should use a capo for a particular song and where to place it but I'm not sure I know how. My tentative guess is that I would find the lowest and highest sung notes of the song and then transpose the key, if necessary, such that they both fall between those 2 G's.

Originally Posted by: dlwalke

Most electric guitars I'm familar with have something like 3-1/2 to 4 octaves. How do verbally identify them. Are the octaves numbered? For example, how would I refer to the G note on the 6th string 3rd fret as opposed to the G note on the 12th fret of the 1st string? For example, is it G1 and G4?

This came up because I was trying to figure out my vocal range and found that I can pretty much sing the notes from G on the 6th string 3rd fret to the open G on the 3rd string. I can kind of go up another octave but it's not very pretty. Soon after the open G, there's a qualitative shift in how I'm singing (like maybe it's head vs chest or something), and straining a bit and stretching my head up and out like a heron swallowing a fish. I assume this is relevent to whether or not I should use a capo for a particular song and where to place it but I'm not sure I know how. My tentative guess is that I would find the lowest and highest sung notes of the song and then transpose the key, if necessary, such that they both fall between those 2 G's.

If Chris jumps in, he'll likely have a better answer but I've really only called the oftaves upper and lower (ie - Upper register G etc). Since there are really only two (or less) octaves on a guitar, in my mind, it doesn't need to be more comlplicated than that.

Originally Posted by: dlwalkeMost electric guitars I'm familar with have something like 3-1/2 to 4 octaves. How do verbally identify them. Are the octaves numbered?[/quote]

Yes, the octaves are numbered like any standard instrument. But there are 2 issues that make this difficult on the guitar: it's a transposing instrument & it's possible to play the same note in more than one place.

The low open E string corresponds in pitch to E2. The confusion on this issue is usually due to the fact that the guitar is written as a transposed instrument. See this chart.

Guitar notation is typically written an octave higher than it sounds at concert pitch compared to the piano (and other standard instruments). This means that the guitar is a transposing instrument, because its notes sound one octave lower than they are actually notated on a score.

The reason for this practice is because if the guitar was written on sheet music as actually pitched, then the pitch of middle C would be written in the bass clef! (Second space from the bottom to be precise.) And the bottom string E would be one ledger line below the entire bass clef.

In order to avoid having to read two staves (bass and treble), the music establishment decided to write guitar one octave up. This helps in one sense because rather than have to read two staves (bass and treble) like piano music, guitar is usually only written in treble clef.

The actual concert pitch middle C on a piano is the "industry standard"; and it is written on the "middle C", one ledger line below the treble clef (also one ledger line above bass clef in order to occupy it's very special place in music notation).

However, the piano is better written in two staves not only because it has a much wider pitch range (higher and lower). But more importantly, because it adds clarity to being able to clearly see two separate parts for two separate hands.

Originally Posted by: dlwalkeFor example, how would I refer to the G note on the 6th string 3rd fret as opposed to the G note on the 12th fret of the 1st string? For example, is it G1 and G4?

I think you mean the 15th fret of the 1st string? 12th fret is E in standard tuning.

Anyway, the G at the 3rd fret of the 6th string (low E) is G2. The G at the 15th fret of the 1st string (high E) is G5.

[quote=dlwalke]I assume this is relevent to whether or not I should use a capo for a particular song and where to place it but I'm not sure I know how. My tentative guess is that I would find the lowest and highest sung notes of the song and then transpose the key, if necessary, such that they both fall between those 2 G's.

Yes, you have the basic idea correct! Hope this helps!

Originally Posted by: ChristopherSchlegel

Yes, you have the basic idea correct! Hope this helps!

Yes, perfect. Thanks as always.

Originally Posted by: GarageBand[/url]]

Most electric guitars I'm familar with have something like 3-1/2 to 4 octaves. How do verbally identify them. Are the octaves numbered? For example, how would I refer to the G note on the 6th string 3rd fret as opposed to the G note on the 12th fret of the 1st string? For example, is it G1 and G4?

This came up because I was trying to figure out my vocal range and found that I can pretty much sing the notes from G on the 6th string 3rd fret to the open G on the 3rd string. I can kind of go up another octave but it's not very pretty. Soon after the open G, there's a qualitative shift in how I'm singing (like maybe it's head vs chest or something), and straining a bit and stretching my head up and out like a heron swallowing a fish. I assume this is relevent to whether or not I should use a capo for a particular song and where to place it but I'm not sure I know how. My tentative guess is that I would find the lowest and highest sung notes of the song and then transpose the key, if necessary, such that they both fall between those 2 G's.

I naturally started doing it when I reached that level. I never learned notes but I would come up with a rhythm and then need to make a lead piece for it. After much head bashing I figured out the octave trick that you explained above. I only hope that new guitarists find this article so they don’t have to go through all that frustration like I did ;)