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Guitar MIDI Note Names

MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. It was developed in the 1980s as a way to save digital music into a standard format that could be sent to playback and mixing systems developed by multiple manufacturers. A MIDI file made on one system should sound the same on any other manufacturer's hardware. MIDI defines the tone of the note, the attack and decay, and the length and volume of the notes.

  1. Middle C on the Guitar

    • In standard notation, middle C is shown on the first line below the staff in the treble clef. Guitarists are taught that middle C is played on the third fret of the "A" string, which is the string beside the low "E" string. However, this note on the guitar is not actually middle C. Guitar is played an octave lower than it should in standard notation, because that makes the notes in the first five frets fall nicely within the treble clef. Middle C is actually played on the "B" string, on the second fret.

    MIDI Note Names and Numbers

    • Middle C is named "C4" and the note number is 60. When looking at MIDI note names and numbers in relation to middle C, the six open strings on guitar are as follows:

      Low "E" -- E3, 52

      "A" -- A3, 57

      "D" -- D4, 62

      "G" -- G4, 67

      "B" -- B4, 71

      High "E" -- E5, 76

      All other notes can be extrapolated from these numbers. Each half-step is one increment in the note name and number.

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