Tool by Reinaldo Assis
Click any note on the neck to highlight every other position where it appears. Use the switcher to move between bass (4 strings) and guitar (6 strings).
On the neck you will see the letters A, B, C, D, E, F, and G.
In standard guitar tuning (EADGBE), each open string starts on its tuning note: low E, A, D, G, B, and high E. Fret 0 is the open string; from there, move up one fret at a time.
To name the following frets, remember: after B and E there is no sharp — the next fret is C and F. On the other notes, the next fret is the sharp (C♯, D♯, F♯, G♯, A♯).
Click a fret to see every position of that note on the neck.
Tab convention: highest string at the top. Frets from 0 (open string) to 12.
Beyond locating notes visually on the neck, RMS uses five reference positions to find the same note elsewhere. Practice each one until it becomes automatic.
Play a note and find the same note 2 frets higher and 2 strings lower (toward the bass strings).
Note: On guitar, when the path crosses the B or high E strings (major third tuning between G and B), shift one extra fret forward — 3 frets ahead instead of 2.
Low E fret 3 → D fret 5 (same pitch G, +2 frets, 2 strings lower)
Guitar — common octave
Play a note and find the same note 2 frets lower and 3 strings lower.
Note: this position only works when fitting on the A and D strings.
A fret 7 → B fret 5 (same pitch E, −2 frets, 3 strings lower)
Guitar — C-shape position
Play a note and find the same note on the next lower string, 5 frets back — as when tuning, comparing fret 5 with the open string below.
Note: On guitar, between the G and B strings the tuning distance is 4 frets (not 5). Use 4 frets back when crossing those two strings.
Open G → D fret 5 (tuning: −5 frets on the string below)
Like tuning: fret 5 = open string above
Play a note and, on the string below, find the same note one octave higher, 7 frets ahead — like the open string and fret 7 on the next string down.
Note: On guitar, when moving down from the B or high E string to the string immediately below, use 6 frets ahead instead of 7 to find the octave above.
Open A → D fret 7 (octave above, +7 frets on the string below)
Open string and 7th fret on the next string down
The same note appears 12 frets ahead on the same string — the exact octave on the neck.
Note: This position is not affected by the G–B tuning difference because it stays on the same string. It works the same on bass, guitar, and similar instruments.
Open low E → low E fret 12 (12 frets ahead, same string)
Guitar — octave on the same string