Unlike piano keys, there is no obvious repeating pattern to the notes on a guitar. In order to learn chords, riffs, and songs, you will have to first know the names of the notes of the fretboard. With a little patience and a very basic understanding of guitars and musical theory, anyone can make knowing the notes on a guitar feel like second nature.

Note: This is for "Standard Tuning," the most common string pattern on a guitar. In standard tuning, from topmost string to bottom-most, the open strings are E A D G B E.