What note is played on the 5th fret of the 3rd string?

To determine what note is played on the 5th fret of the 3rd string (which is the G string on a standard-tuned guitar), it’s important to understand the note sequence on the guitar fretboard.

The open 3rd string is a G note. When fingering the frets on a guitar, each fret represents a half-step increase in pitch. Thus, moving up from the open string:

• 1st fret: G# (or Ab)

• 2nd fret: A

• 3rd fret: A# (or Bb)

• 4th fret: B

• 5th fret: C

However, when we reach the 5th fret, we have improperly calculated the string note; rather than continuing to follow the sequential pattern accurately, what is needed is to reaffirm the note’s position based on the standard tuning and the fretboard layout.

While the answer provided was D, the correct note actually is C. Given the tuning of the guitar strings, the progression must be acknowledged systematically, leading us effectively to the G string's natural note and subsequent frets in their proper placement.