Guitar Root Notes Explained (With Chart for All Chords)

Understanding root notes is one of the most important fundamentals in guitar theory. Once you grasp this concept, everything else—chord construction, scales, and even soloing—starts to make a lot more sense.

In this lesson, I'll explain exactly what root notes are, show you where to find them on every common chord, and explain why they matter for your playing.

What Is a Root Note on Guitar?

The root note is the note that gives a chord its name. If you're playing a G chord, the root note is G. If you're playing a C chord, the root note is C.

In most standard open chords and bar chords, the root note is also the lowest-pitched note in the chord. This is important because lower frequencies set the foundation for how our ears interpret everything above them.

Think of it this way: the root note is like the starting point that tells your ear "this is a G chord" or "this is a D chord."

Guitar Root Note Chart (All Common Chords)

Here's a quick reference showing where the root note is located for each common open chord - keep in mind of course that there are different fingerings for different chords. As such I've gone with the most common shapes for simplicity here. 

Key Point: The root note location tells you which strings you should and shouldn't strum. More on this below.

Why Root Notes Matter for Your Playing

1. Cleaner Chord Strumming

One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is strumming all six strings on every chord. This creates a muddy, unfocused sound.

The root note tells you where to start your strum.

Take the D chord, for example. The root note is on the 4th string (D string). If you strum the 5th and 6th strings, you're adding notes that don't belong—and the low E especially will clash and make your D chord sound muddy.

Once you know where the root note is, you know exactly which strings to avoid.

2. Understanding Chord Names

The root note determines the letter name of any chord. All the other notes determine the type of chord (major, minor, 7th, etc.).

For example, with a C root note:

Same root note, different chord types. The root note stays C in all cases.

3. Moving Chords Up the Neck (Bar Chords)

This is where root notes become really powerful. Once you understand that an E major chord shape has its root on the 6th string, you can move that shape anywhere on the neck to create new chords.

Move the E shape up one fret, bar across, and now your root is on the 1st fret of the 6th string—that's an F. Move it to the 3rd fret? Now it's a G.

The root note location is how you know what chord you're playing when you move bar chord shapes around.

Root Notes for Each Open Chord (Detailed)

A Chord Root Note

The A chord uses the top 5 strings. Your root note is the open A string (5th string).

Don't play the low E string—it will muddy up the sound because E isn't the root of your A chord.

C Chord Root Note

The C chord root is on the 5th string, 3rd fret. That's a C note. Again, we skip the low E string.

Technically, you could play the low E and call it a "C/E" (C over E)—a slash chord. But for a standard C major, keep your lowest note as the C on the 5th string.

D Chord Root Note

The D chord only uses 4 strings. Your root note is the open D string (4th string). This is why D chord diagrams show X's on the 5th and 6th strings.

But why can't we play those strings? Let's break it down:

The low E string: E has no place in the D major chord. If you play it, it really conflicts with the D, making the sound muddy and less defined. That E just doesn't belong.

The A string: This one's more interesting. We do have an A note in the D chord (it's on the 2nd string, 2nd fret). So why can't we play the open A string too?

The reason is that lower frequencies set the stage for how our ears interpret the higher frequencies. Think of the lowest note like a starting point. If you start on an A, but you want to play a D chord, it changes the flavor of the chord.

Technically, this can work, because A is the fifth of D. However, in this case we would write it as D/A. You would say that as "D over A." This is an example of a slash chord—the slash indicates that although we're playing a D chord, the bass note (lowest note) is A. You could also say it's a "D with an A bass."

Even in this case though, the ROOT note of the chord is still D, because that's the note that gives the chord its name.

This is exactly why understanding root notes matters—it clears up confusion around chords and cleans up your playing.

E Chord Root Note

The E chord uses all 6 strings, with the root note on the open low E string. This is the lowest note possible on a standard-tuned guitar, which gives E chords their full, powerful sound.

F Chord (Bar Chord) Root Note

The F bar chord has its root on the 6th string, 1st fret. This is the same "E shape" moved up one fret with your index finger barring across.

G Chord Root Note

The G chord root is on the 6th string, 3rd fret. That's a G note. You'll strum all 6 strings with this chord.

Root Notes vs. Bass Notes

Sometimes these terms get confused:

Usually these are the same. But in slash chords (like D/F# or C/G), the bass note is different from the root note.

In D/F#, the root is still D, but the bass note is F#. This creates a nice walking bass line when moving between G and D chords.

How Root Notes Connect to Scales

When someone says "this song is in the key of A," they're telling you that A is the tonal center—also called the tonic.

If you're soloing over an A chord, your scale's root note should also be A. This is why learning your root note locations on the fretboard helps with soloing—you'll know where to target and resolve your phrases.

Practice Tips

Take Your Theory Further

Root notes are just the beginning. If you want to understand why chords work together, how to find any chord anywhere on the neck, and how to use theory to actually improve your playing, check out Guitar Theory Unlocked—my complete course that makes theory practical and usable.

Related Lessons: