A solid knowledge of the fretboard is essential to playing classical style guitar. The fretboard is set up starting with the lowest to the highest strings in this fashion;

Key of Cmajor up to the 5th fret. (No sharps or flats).

         | E  A  D  G  B  E | Open Position
         |------------------|
         | F           C  F | 1st fret
         |------------------|
         |    B  E  A       | 2nd fret
         |------------------|
         | G  C  F     D  G | 3rd fret
         |------------------| 
         |          B       | 4th fret
         |------------------|
         |A   D  G  C  E  A | 5th fret
         |------------------|

This pattern continues all the way up the fretboard. Sharps (#) are produced by going UP 1/2 step (1 fret),
and flats(b) are are produced in like manner going down 1/2 step (1 fret).