I was wondering how many frets most people put on their guitars ? At the moment I am using a 25.5 inch scale length and putting 22 frets in (based on fender gits) and find this quite long and I have noticed that some gits have different numbers 17,19, 21, 22 etc . I know there are no rules but I was wondering if there are conventions or even possibly a "magic number" obviously I am using a electric git scale and not a classical one , so any advice or thoughts would be appreciated
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At that Fender scale length, the typical fret at the body-neck join is 17 or 18. Unless you can shred like Yngwie, you don't really need anything above that.
I try to do at least 17 frets, that lets you play the basic 5 fret stuff one octave higher.
Cause sometimes it sounds better to go up to G instead of down, but mostly because its easier to do some random picking in the boxes when you can go in both directions up and down the frets.
In line with what Titch said, banjo player Stringbean used to say "ain't no money past the 5th fret" I usually put 15 frets on most of my 3 string CBG's and when I need notes higher than that I grab them with a slide or just play them like a fretless. I've made some with as few as 12 frets (well lots with no frets but that's not the question here) and if you're just playing 3 chord blues or folk songs on a 3 stringer you can get by with 7 frets. The I chord is open, the IV chord is the 5th fret and the V chord is the 7th fret. Still all the other notes are available either played fretless or with a slide.
Us uke builders say if you're using any more than 5 you are just showing off, to which I add if you are using any more than 3 you are betterer than me. GBGs on the other hand tend to utilise the octave and over octave notes so go for as many as you can fit.
Lane Martin > Titch the ClownMay 26, 2016 at 12:35pm
Agreed!
I only need more frets for the A string because of the alternate D (2225) and E shapes I use on soprano and concert scale ukes. Maybe I should practice more. ha
Replies
After 12 you can go with the aesthetics and combine it into the design.
I usually do 12 but have always wanted to just do 7, just for fun!!
I tend to stop when it looks like the frets are so close that my finger can't get between...
I stick with 12 frets, cause I just don't like doing frets that much.
I try to do at least 17 frets, that lets you play the basic 5 fret stuff one octave higher.
Cause sometimes it sounds better to go up to G instead of down, but mostly because its easier to do some random picking in the boxes when you can go in both directions up and down the frets.
In line with what Titch said, banjo player Stringbean used to say "ain't no money past the 5th fret" I usually put 15 frets on most of my 3 string CBG's and when I need notes higher than that I grab them with a slide or just play them like a fretless. I've made some with as few as 12 frets (well lots with no frets but that's not the question here) and if you're just playing 3 chord blues or folk songs on a 3 stringer you can get by with 7 frets. The I chord is open, the IV chord is the 5th fret and the V chord is the 7th fret. Still all the other notes are available either played fretless or with a slide.
Us uke builders say if you're using any more than 5 you are just showing off, to which I add if you are using any more than 3 you are betterer than me. GBGs on the other hand tend to utilise the octave and over octave notes so go for as many as you can fit.
Agreed!
I only need more frets for the A string because of the alternate D (2225) and E shapes I use on soprano and concert scale ukes. Maybe I should practice more. ha