Sharps and Flats on the 5th (A) String

In addition to the notes A, B, and C on the 5th string (A) in the open position, the notes A#/Bb and C#/Db also exist in the open position. The diagram below shows the location of these sharp and flat notes and how they are written on the staff and in tablature.

The following reading exercise demonstrates the use of sharps and flats on the 5th string. Use a metronome at a slow tempo so you have control over your hand at all times. The goal with these exercises is to memorize the location of each note on the staff so it is easily recognizable and can be found quickly when reading music.