Musical Practice and Performance Stack Exchange
Musical Practice and Performance Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [fretboard]

The fretboard is a thin, long strip of material, usually wood, containing frets that is laminated to the front of the neck of an instrument.

The fingerboard (also known as a fretboard on fretted instruments) is a part of most stringed instruments. It is a thin, long strip of material, usually wood, that is laminated to the front of the neck of an instrument. The strings run over the fingerboard, between the nut and bridge. To play such an instrument, a musician presses strings down to the fingerboard to change the vibrating length, changing the pitch. This is called stopping the strings.

(from Wikipedia)

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Position of white dots in guitar fretboard

I was wondering why the white dots in the fretboard are usually placed in fret numbers 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 15, 17, 19, and 21. I know that their general purpose is for counting, but what I wonder is: Why are they placed on precisely those frets, and not…
Abel Molina
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What are the benefits of guitars with fanned frets?

I've seen fanned frets on some extended-ranged classical and electric guitars. What are the benefits of guitars with fanned frets? Are there any drawbacks?
brian
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What is the Difference between Maple and Rosewood Fretboards

Is there a difference that's based on feel or sound - why are they the two most widely used choices?
JustnBeaver
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Why is a zero fret so uncommon on guitars in spite of all the advantages?

Given the many advantages of using a zero fret on a guitar (as cited in this excellent answer Advantages of a zero fret) and given that with a zero fret it is easier to play chords that call for strings to be fretted at the first fret (F Maj Barre)…
Rockin Cowboy
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The vocabulary of directions in fretted instruments

In questions and answers on this site, I see a great deal of confusion about directions. I've seen "lower string" refer to strings that are lower in pitch, and to strings that are closer to the floor (therefore, opposites on a conventionally tuned…
slim
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Guitar fret out of tune?

I'm a newbie with an inexpensive guitar. It tunes up well and holds its tune well, however, on the low E string, the further up the fingerboard I go, the more the frets seem to be out of tune. I have pretty good pitch from other musical instruments,…
Fraser Orr
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What can be done about a buzzy sitar-like fret?

I have an acoustic-electric guitar, which I took home new about 10 years ago. Lately I've noticed that the G on the high E string (third fret, play it all the time) has started to sound like a sitar. The twangy "bwang" whenever I hit it. The F# and…
Dave Jacoby
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Learning to play bass guitar: Fretless vs Fretted

I took bass guitar lessons years ago, but decided I was going to start self-teaching again. I have 2 basses, a Squire P-Bass, and a Fender fretless J-Bass. I was thinking about teaching myself to play on the fretless, as it would be less forgiving,…
Dan McClain
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Bass guitar: how to avoid sound when string hits fret

I picked up the bass a few months ago, and I've noticed that when I'm playing something, the strings make loud clicky sounds when they hit the fret. This happens especially when I'm trying to play something fast, and when I jump between strings. How…
sodiumnitrate
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What interval should frets be placed for the Tar (Persian Lute)?

I have recently come into possession of a Tar. But I have no idea how to place the frets on this instrument, which are made of gut (feels a bit like twine) tied around the neck. How do I determine the intervals? Which fret goes where? I've tried…
kylex
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On instruments that use frets, where's the best spot to press a string on, in order to minimize hand fatigue and potential for injuries?

I know this question sounds completely subjective at first sight, it even triggered the automatic "The question you're asking appears subjective and is likely to be closed" alarm, but please read further. Action is the distance between the fret and…
NPN328
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Left/right hand coordination on guitar, fretting wrong strings, while playing melodies

I'm having trouble with my left/right hand coordination. I'll either fret the wrong string, or pick the wrong string. I'm trying not to look down at the guitar because I know it's a bad habit, but this is frustrating because I keep missing notes. Do…
ffxsam
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Can I easily defret a normal guitar to play it as a fretless guitar, or do I need to alter it further?

After enjoying this wonderful video of a Vigier fretless guitar with a metal neck I have decided to defret one of my cheaper Les Paul copies to see what it feels like, but I have a couple of queries, as I have never defretted a neck before. I assume…
Doktor Mayhem
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G string out of tune but only when played open

So I figured out I can tune my G string just a little flat so all the frets sound in tune, except that, of course, leaves open G sounding like F#. What should I do?
Nick
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Carved fingerboard between frets on a guitar

I've played the electric guitar for about ten years. I've seen and tried out various kinds of necks, but today I stumbled upon a fingerboard that goes beyond my understanding. It looked like this: My question is; Why would someone want a…
Okw
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