So the dots on the fretboard are at the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th (doubles), 15th, and 17th, frets. I assume the double dots at the 12th indicate the octave, but I'm not aware of the significance of marking the other frets. Is it a theory thing I'm not aware of yet or just a visual guide?
Megs
Dots on the fretboard
On guitars, there are two popular fretboard inlay schemes: Courtesy Wikipedia...
* The most popular involves single inlays on the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, double inlays on the 12th, single inlays on the 15th, 17th, 19th, and 21st, and if present, double inlays on the 24th. Advantages of such scheme include its symmetry about the 12th fret and symmetry of every half (0-12 and 12-24) about the 7th and 19th frets. However, playing these frets, for example, on the E string would yield the notes E, G, A, B, C# that barely make a complete musical mode by themselves.
* A less popular scheme involves inlays on 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th, 12th, 15th, 17th, 19th, 22nd and 24th frets. Playing these frets on the E string yields the notes E, G, A, B, D that fit perfectly into the E minor pentatonic scale. Such a scheme is very close to the coloring of a piano's keys and is of some use on classical guitars.
* The most popular involves single inlays on the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, double inlays on the 12th, single inlays on the 15th, 17th, 19th, and 21st, and if present, double inlays on the 24th. Advantages of such scheme include its symmetry about the 12th fret and symmetry of every half (0-12 and 12-24) about the 7th and 19th frets. However, playing these frets, for example, on the E string would yield the notes E, G, A, B, C# that barely make a complete musical mode by themselves.
* A less popular scheme involves inlays on 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th, 12th, 15th, 17th, 19th, 22nd and 24th frets. Playing these frets on the E string yields the notes E, G, A, B, D that fit perfectly into the E minor pentatonic scale. Such a scheme is very close to the coloring of a piano's keys and is of some use on classical guitars.
Hi Meg, the dots are only there to remind you the fret number so it is easier to position your hand when playing bar chords per example (visual guide). On one of Neils guitar you will notice that there is no dots on it but normally most guitars have them.
Happy New Year
Marc
Happy New Year
Marc
Lavallee wrote:
Lol always hovering over the keyboard , I had a bit of a search to find something meaningful though, with the brief research done that was the best I could find which was easy to understand.Chas, you were too fast
Marc
Good question...no answer here. Only my findings. My yahama c40 has no inlays on the fretboard and only one side dot at the 7th fret. I am like why on that.
So I put GlowDots on it. I don't use the glow in the dark aspects of them. But they work for markers. I just put them on the fretboard. I figured the ones on the side would look funky and fall off or something. These are just small stickers so your not doing much. Much simpler than actually putting in new inlays.
My other guitar which is also a classical has nothing on the fretboard but a full set on the side which is good enough. For I realized quickly when working with it that is where I want them. I always thought the ones on the fretboard where the most important. They are not.
So why do classical guitars omit these when the music they are most suited for is finger style type music versus chorded strumming?
So I put GlowDots on it. I don't use the glow in the dark aspects of them. But they work for markers. I just put them on the fretboard. I figured the ones on the side would look funky and fall off or something. These are just small stickers so your not doing much. Much simpler than actually putting in new inlays.
My other guitar which is also a classical has nothing on the fretboard but a full set on the side which is good enough. For I realized quickly when working with it that is where I want them. I always thought the ones on the fretboard where the most important. They are not.
So why do classical guitars omit these when the music they are most suited for is finger style type music versus chorded strumming?
pigpenz wrote:
It is maybe because Classical Players use the complete neck to find the notes that suit their playing and to achieve the tone they want as opposed to subliminal guidance by the dots, in other words to promote individual feel for the tune they play.
Not an answer but my opinion:I had always wondered why classical guitars never had fret markers
It is maybe because Classical Players use the complete neck to find the notes that suit their playing and to achieve the tone they want as opposed to subliminal guidance by the dots, in other words to promote individual feel for the tune they play.