Notes on the fretboard: Cavaquinho – Alternative (GGBD)

G-G-B-D · Alternative

C
GGBD035791215G4 · fret 0G♯4 · fret 1A4 · fret 2A♯4 · fret 3B4 · fret 4C5 · fret 5C♯5 · fret 6D5 · fret 7D♯5 · fret 8E5 · fret 9F5 · fret 10F♯5 · fret 11G5 · fret 12G♯5 · fret 13A5 · fret 14A♯5 · fret 15G4 · fret 0G♯4 · fret 1A4 · fret 2A♯4 · fret 3B4 · fret 4C5 · fret 5C♯5 · fret 6D5 · fret 7D♯5 · fret 8E5 · fret 9F5 · fret 10F♯5 · fret 11G5 · fret 12G♯5 · fret 13A5 · fret 14A♯5 · fret 15B4 · fret 0C5 · fret 1C♯5 · fret 2D5 · fret 3D♯5 · fret 4E5 · fret 5F5 · fret 6F♯5 · fret 7G5 · fret 8G♯5 · fret 9A5 · fret 10A♯5 · fret 11B5 · fret 12C6 · fret 13C♯6 · fret 14D6 · fret 15D5 · fret 0D♯5 · fret 1E5 · fret 2F5 · fret 3F♯5 · fret 4G5 · fret 5G♯5 · fret 6A5 · fret 7A♯5 · fret 8B5 · fret 9C6 · fret 10C♯6 · fret 11D6 · fret 12D♯6 · fret 13E6 · fret 14F6 · fret 15CC5 · fret 5CC5 · fret 5CC5 · fret 1CC6 · fret 13CC6 · fret 10

Tap any fret to hear it. Pick an octave to single out one exact pitch – the other octaves fade.

Where to find C: Cavaquinho – Alternative (GGBD)

  • String 1 (D): 10
  • String 2 (B): 1, 13
  • String 3 (G): 5
  • String 4 (G): 5

All notes on the fretboard: Cavaquinho – Alternative (GGBD)

String0123456789101112
1DD♯EFF♯GG♯AA♯BCC♯D
2BCC♯DD♯EFF♯GG♯AA♯B
3GG♯AA♯BCC♯DD♯EFF♯G
4GG♯AA♯BCC♯DD♯EFF♯G

In the tuning Alternative (GGBD) its 4 strings cover a range from G4 to F6 within the first 15 positions. Pick a note to mark every place it sounds, choose an octave to single out one exact pitch, and use the chart above to learn the neck string by string.

Find notes in another tuning: Cavaquinho

More note finders

How do I learn the notes on this fretboard?

Start with the open strings of Alternative (GGBD), then learn one natural note at a time across all strings. The 12th fret repeats the open strings an octave higher, so the chart only needs frets 0 to 12.

Why does the same note appear on several strings?

Neighbouring strings overlap in range, so most pitches can be played in more than one place. Choose an octave in the note finder to see exactly which positions give the same pitch.

What is the range of this tuning?

From G4, the lowest open string, up to F6 at the 15th position of the highest string.