635:
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912:
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487:. Semi-fretted versions of guitars and other fretted string instruments, however, are usually one-off, custom adaptations made for players who want to combine elements of both types of sound. One arrangement is for the frets to extend only part of the way along the neck so that the higher notes can be played with the smooth expression possible with a fretless fingerboard. Another approach is the use of frets that extend only partway across the fretboard so that some courses of strings are fretted and others fretless, for example Ryszard Latecki's
468:), frets were typically made out of thin wire, and some electric guitar players replaced that with thicker wire, for "fat frets" or "jumbo frets". Fat frets make bending easier, and they change the feel of the guitar. As well, large frets, offering more metal, remain playable much longer than thin frets. A side effect of a thicker fret is a less precise note, since the string is held over a wider surface, causing a slight inaccuracy of pitch, which increases in significance as frets wear.
689:
32:
503:, making all fretted tones sound sharp. When the saddle is positioned properly, however, the fretted tones all sound sharp to the same degree as long as the distances between the frets are correct. With the right nut compensation, the pitch of the unfretted string can be raised by the same amount. As a result, when the tension of the strings is lowered, the pitches of all notes, both fretted and unfretted, become correct.
296:
519:, frets are eventually bound to wear down as the strings cut grooves into them. When this happens, the instrument may need refretting (the frets are removed and replaced) or, in less severe cases, "fret dressing" (the frets are leveled, polished, and possibly recrowned). Often, a few fret dressings can be performed on a guitar before it requires complete refretting.
858:
Fragment of a wooden lute. This is only the neck of the instrument, the body has not survived...There are marks showing at the top of the fingerboard where two strands of gut, probably with a third strand on top of them to raise the height of the strings, served as a nut. The surviving doubled strand
542:. Fret buzz occurs when the vibrating part of one or more strings physically strikes the frets that are higher than the fretted note (or open note). This causes a "buzzing" sound on the guitar that can range from a small annoyance, to severe enough to dampen the note and greatly reduce
394:
to each other, on a "fanned" fretboard, the frets are angled (spread like a fan) with only one center fret perpendicular to the neck's centerline. This gives the lower-pitched strings more length and the higher strings shorter length (comparable to a
241:, thus lowering or raising the string tension and pitch. However, except for instruments that accommodate extensive string pulling, like the sitar, much less influence on intonation is possible than on unfretted instruments.
431:
employed a slanted fret, but it was not multi scale, or fanned. Novax
Guitars among others offers such guitars today. The appearance of angled frets on these modern instruments belies the antiquity of this technique.
458:. Scalloped fretboards have not found widespread popularity because tonally accurate play requires a much lighter fretting hand than most guitarists can achieve, and often significantly heavier strings as well.
499:
Instruments with straight frets like guitars require a special compensation on the saddle and nut. Every time a string is fretted it is also stretched, and as it stretches the string rises in
233:
playing. On instruments with frets that are thicker off the fingerboard, string tension and pitch vary with finger pressure behind the fret. Sometimes a player can pull the string toward the
156:. Frets usually extend across the full width of the neck. On some historical instruments and non-European instruments, frets are made of pieces of string tied around the neck.
288:. To compensate for the increase in string tension when the string is pressed against the frets, the bridge position is adjusted slightly so the 12th fret plays exactly in
280:
828:
988:
1089:
442:
involves removing some of the wood between some or all of the fret. This is intended to allow a lighter touch for more precise fingering, while easing
450:(since there's no contact between the fingertips and the wooden surface of the fingerboard). It has some popularity with musicians playing
1014:
1001:
1239:
718:
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195:
and the next fret between the fretting finger and the bridge. This is damped if the string were stopped with the soft fingertip on a
859:
of gut was a fret, and the slightly thicker single strand may have been a fret for higher notes...Registration number 1907,1111.90
1427:
221:, however, by pulling the string to the side to increase string tension and raise the pitch. This technique (commonly called "
1422:
795:
588:(although this example is undoubtedly caused by alternate open tunings that reduce string tension). In some songs, such as "
709:
It is not known when frets were first used. An early example from about the 3rd century C.E. was discovered in 1907 in the
206:
since the frets determine the positions for the correct notes. Furthermore, a fretted fingerboard makes it easier to play
832:
1214:
955:
933:
872:
115:
926:
600:
and the low tension of the strings is used to create fret buzz by the bass player in order to create a dirty sound.
96:
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68:
53:
144:
is any of the thin strips of material, usually metal wire, inserted laterally at specific positions along the
1051:
682:. There are frets drawn over the body of the instrument, where it is unlikely that gut frets could be placed.
1030:
1024:
75:
1033:– Article about removing, installing, leveling, crowning, and dressing guitar frets on Guitar Repair Bench
581:
982:– An article on calculating fret positions for any equal tempered instrument on Liutaio Mottola Lutherie
634:
1085:
447:
82:
1193:
191:
Pressing the string against the fret reduces the vibrating length of the string to that between the
1044:
920:
439:
403:
where heavier strings have different lengths). The idea is to give more accurate tuning and deeper
284:, or approximately 1.059463. Theoretically, the twelfth fret should divide the string in two exact
1204:
1152:
853:
745:
652:
383:
64:
42:
725:(384–441 A.D.), which also has frets. Buddhist artworks from the 6th-10th centuries C.E. in the
256:
1170:
937:
1011:
1177:
1148:
998:
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695:
49:
20:
550:) of the note, without any noticeable buzzing. Fret buzz can be caused by different things:
320:
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8:
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539:
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Fret buzz is one of the many undesirable phenomena that can occur on a guitar or similar
477:
465:
423:. John Starrett revived the idea in the late seventies on his innovative instrument, the
391:
253:
234:
192:
153:
546:. Sometimes, fret buzz can be so minimal that there is only a small change in the tone (
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133:
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1165:
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128:
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589:
360:
1008:– An article on fret installation for a new instrument on Liutaio Mottola Lutherie
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179:
is often used as a verb, meaning simply "to press down the string behind a fret".
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1027:– Article about guitar string buzz problems and fixes on Guitar Repair Bench
202:
Frets make it much easier for a player to achieve an acceptable standard of
1401:
585:
476:
It is also possible to find semi-fretted instruments; examples include the
454:, although the concept can also be seen in ancient instruments such as the
428:
404:
348:
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145:
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783:
1376:
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625:
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China. Pipa with frets, Middle Tang
Dynasty era (618–907 A.D.), from the
574:
512:
149:
811:
Hunter, Dave (February 2014). "What's the Big Deal About Jumbo Frets?".
1314:
1309:
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1111:
1072:
764:
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424:
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717:, China, a broken lute's neck with two gut frets intact. The neck and
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Frets divide the neck into fixed segments at intervals related to a
31:
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244:
Since the intonation of most modern western fretted instruments is
196:
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744:) in France also appear fretted, as do citoles from Spain in the
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of the lute are similar to the lute painted on the wall in the
679:
580:
Fret buzz is evident in some famous recordings; an example is "
547:
289:
172:
164:
1386:
999:
Installing the Frets in a
Fretted Stringed Musical Instrument
455:
396:
340:
249:
230:
213:
A disadvantage of frets is that they restrict pitches to the
160:
733:(618-907 C.E.) appear to have frets. Some long lutes in the
295:
217:
defined by the fret positions. A player may still influence
183:
often refers to the frets and/or their system of placement.
1066:
1012:
Dressing the Frets in a
Fretted Stringed Musical Instrument
527:
523:
420:
400:
363:(with as many as 5 frets per semitone, to cover all of the
252:
of the distances of two consecutive frets to the bridge is
1021:– An article on fret dressing on Liutaio Mottola Lutherie
311:
Many instruments' frets are not spaced according to the
136:(in the background, coloured white) and first four frets
971:
Intonation of stringed instruments with straight frets
259:
873:"墓主燕居行乐图探考 (translation: Exploring Yanjuxing's Tomb"
511:
On instruments equipped with steel strings, such as
56:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
411:. Fanned frets first appeared on the 16th-century
274:
787:Mottola's Cyclopedic Dictionary of Lutherie Terms
1414:
530:, wear quickly, and must be replaced regularly.
522:Tied gut frets, used on instruments such as the
1052:
407:. Some think that fanned frets might be more
171:in the standard western system, in which one
355:(with frets spaced according to the Persian
471:
229:of all genres, and is an important part of
16:Bar across the neck of stringed instruments
1059:
1045:
956:Learn how and when to remove this message
655:an Anglo Saxon artist drew an image of a
116:Learn how and when to remove this message
919:This article includes a list of general
390:to the instrument's neck centerline and
294:
127:
382:(also fanned frets, slanted frets), or
1415:
810:
1040:
864:
1031:Re-fret Bound and Unbound Fretboards
905:
343:(with frets spaced according to the
331:(with frets spaced according to the
54:adding citations to reliable sources
25:
870:
464:: on older guitars (especially the
13:
925:it lacks sufficient corresponding
879:. 黑龙江 : 黑龙江日报报业集团 . Archived from
494:
175:is divided into twelve semitones.
163:framework. On instruments such as
14:
1439:
901:
790:. LiutaioMottola.com. p. 2.
132:The neck of a guitar showing the
910:
784:Mottola, R.M. (1 January 2020).
687:
664:
633:
617:
30:
299:Frets tied on to the neck of a
41:needs additional citations for
1428:String instrument construction
871:Zhu, Fengsh (September 2014).
846:
821:
804:
777:
698:from a 1333 copy of his book,
186:
1:
770:
749:
738:
672:
645:
560:Improperly installed fretbars
374:
225:") is often used by electric
1423:Guitar parts and accessories
975:http://www.pepithesecond.com
533:
506:
386:: while frets are generally
7:
758:
694:Iraq. Drawing of a lute by
596:, the guitars are tuned to
167:, each fret represents one
10:
1444:
980:Calculating Fret Positions
603:
275:{\displaystyle {\sqrt{2}}}
18:
1248:
1194:Music On A Long Thin Wire
1097:
1083:
359:system), and the Turkish
347:system), and the Persian
282:(the twelfth root of two)
1090:Hornbostel–Sachs numbers
472:Semi-fretted instruments
307:frets between semitones.
969:Konrad Schwingenstein:
940:more precise citations.
746:Cantigas de Santa Maria
653:Carolingian Renaissance
1171:Long-string instrument
1025:Fix Guitar String Buzz
856:. The British Museum.
308:
276:
137:
723:Dingjiazha Tomb No. 5
298:
277:
131:
21:Fret (disambiguation)
986:How to replace frets
883:on 24 September 2018
321:Appalachian dulcimer
257:
50:improve this article
19:For other uses, see
729:(558-907 C.E.) and
540:stringed instrument
466:Fender Stratocaster
436:Scalloped fretboard
415:, a variant of the
154:stringed instrument
1178:Melde's experiment
1017:2021-01-26 at the
1004:2021-01-26 at the
991:2007-09-30 at the
337:Turkish folk music
309:
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1166:Longitudinal wave
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797:978-1-7341256-0-3
594:Killswitch Engage
452:heavy metal music
323:(with frets in a
317:equal temperament
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1230:String vibration
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678:Angel holding a
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1006:Wayback Machine
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106:November 2018
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67: –
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61:Find sources:
55:
51:
45:
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39:This article
37:
33:
28:
27:
22:
1402:Washtub bass
1255:musical bows
1215:Scale length
1192:
1143:
1112:Third bridge
970:
952:
943:
924:
892:
887:24 September
885:. Retrieved
881:the original
876:
866:
857:
848:
837:. Retrieved
833:the original
823:
812:
806:
786:
779:
708:
699:
586:Led Zeppelin
579:
537:
521:
513:folk guitars
510:
498:
485:Afghan Rubab
480:
475:
461:
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435:
434:
429:Rickenbacker
379:
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345:Arabic maqam
319:, examples:
310:
243:
212:
210:accurately.
201:
190:
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176:
158:
141:
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112:
103:
93:
86:
79:
72:
60:
48:Please help
43:verification
40:
1377:Psalmodicon
1290:Diddley bow
1149:Fundamental
1139:Fingerboard
1119:Chordophone
1077:instruments
938:introducing
753: 1280
731:Yulin Caves
727:Mogao Caves
696:Safi al-Din
659:with frets.
626:Yulin Caves
575:guitar neck
384:multi-scale
215:temperament
187:Explanation
1417:Categories
1310:Ichigenkin
1305:Ground bow
1250:Monochords
1240:Tuning peg
1220:Soundboard
1134:Enharmonic
921:references
839:2011-01-22
771:References
765:Open chord
711:Niya ruins
649: 850
440:Scalloping
425:Starrboard
375:Variations
335:system of
305:microtonal
227:guitarists
219:intonation
204:intonation
76:newspapers
1357:Langeleik
1295:Duxianqin
1188:Monochord
1157:Overtones
1153:Harmonics
946:June 2009
671:England,
628:, cave 15
598:Dropped C
569:Improper
566:too loose
534:Fret buzz
507:Fret wear
462:Fat frets
413:Orpharion
409:ergonomic
380:Fan frets
371:system).
313:semitones
150:fretboard
1372:Onavillu
1325:Genggong
1320:Jaw harp
1268:Berimbau
1210:Re-entry
1067:Musical
1015:Archived
1002:Archived
989:Archived
759:See also
715:Xinjiang
640:France,
483:and the
478:Malagasy
448:vibratos
392:parallel
197:fretless
181:Fretting
169:semitone
1392:Umuduri
1367:Masenqo
1350:Mukkuri
1345:Morsing
1285:Đàn bầu
1278:Boom-ba
1263:Ahardin
1069:strings
934:improve
657:cythara
604:History
582:Friends
564:Strings
544:sustain
417:cittern
357:Dastgah
303:; note
223:bending
165:guitars
161:musical
90:scholar
1397:Unitar
1362:Lesiba
1340:Kubing
1335:Khomuz
1330:Gogona
1300:Ektara
1124:Course
1107:Bridge
1075:, and
923:, but
854:"Lute"
794:
719:pegbox
680:citole
571:relief
556:action
548:timbre
481:kabosy
365:commas
361:tanbur
286:halves
248:, the
235:bridge
208:chords
193:bridge
173:octave
92:
85:
78:
71:
65:"Fret"
63:
1387:Tumbi
1129:Drone
1073:wires
877:活力杂志
592:" by
584:" by
501:pitch
489:Latar
456:sitar
444:bends
399:or a
397:piano
369:Makam
349:setar
341:buzuq
333:Makam
250:ratio
231:sitar
152:of a
97:JSTOR
83:books
1200:Node
1144:Fret
1086:List
889:2018
792:ISBN
554:Low
528:viol
524:lute
515:and
421:lute
405:bass
401:harp
351:and
290:tune
177:Fret
146:neck
142:fret
69:news
1252:and
1205:Nut
1102:Bow
755:).
713:in
573:of
526:or
446:or
353:tar
329:Saz
315:of
301:saz
239:nut
237:or
148:or
134:nut
52:by
1419::
1071:,
973:,
891:.
875:.
750:c.
739:c.
673:c.
646:c.
644:,
491:.
438::
427:.
292:.
267:12
140:A
1159:/
1155:/
1151:/
1092:)
1088:(
1060:e
1053:t
1046:v
959:)
953:(
948:)
944:(
930:.
842:.
817:.
800:.
748:(
737:(
702:.
263:2
119:)
113:(
108:)
104:(
94:·
87:·
80:·
73:·
46:.
23:.
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