Why are the inlays where they are on a guitar

[extendedping]

i have decided to learn a bit of theory and my first step is to learn the notes on my fretboard. just wondering if anybody has some insight as to why the inlays are where they are. for instance in actual playing they sometimes hurt me not help me. an example would be playing from the 8th fret to the 13th fret (or a 4th up). my eye is trained that a 4th should go from a non inlay fret to an inlay fret or vice versa. yet here that will not work since the "F" fret does not have a n inlay. furthermonre the 12th fret has an inlay thought it is an even fret...
now i know 12 is the octave but....overall i don't see the method with the fret markers...3 5 7 9 ok i get that, its the odd frets with markings. but how come no marker at 1 11 and 13? I know there must be some reason for the layout of the inlays....please enlighten me. thank you. :smack:

 

[Woodcutter]

Re: Why are the inlays where they are on a guitar

I'm just guessing but heres my thoughts. There isen't one on the first fret probably because it's etremely obvious where it is. The inlay on the 12th fret is usally a double dot or something differnt to make it stand out from the other inlays. The reason i for the 12th and not the 11th and 13th being marked is because of it being the octave and personally it breaks things up and makes it easier to know where I am an the fret board.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Why are the inlays where they are on a guitar

There is a real historical musical reason for this, but I can't remember it off the top of my head. Hopefully someone else knows. I do know that the double dot represents one octave from the open string.

Again, I'm sure someone on here knows the official answer, and I am interested in learning it.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Why are the inlays where they are on a guitar

Pentatonic scale IIRC

 

[Boston Joe]

Re: Why are the inlays where they are on a guitar

Since every modern guitar is a reworking of the gut stringed classical, it is probably just tradition seeing as the classical guitar's neck joins the body at the 12th fret. Granted, classicals traditionally have no inlays on the plane of the fretboard, but they will have dot inlays on the side of their necks. I have seen guitars with inlays at the first fret position.

 

[Boston Joe]

Re: Why are the inlays where they are on a guitar

Pentatonic scale IIRC

Looking at the fretboard, that makes sense-- but is that the original intent?

You can just as easily say that it was designed for the convenient management of I, IV, V chord progressions.

 

[superreverb]

Re: Why are the inlays where they are on a guitar

well if you're going to mark the 12th fret, i wouldnt mark the 11th or 13th. although with that thought if i was going to mark the 12th fret i'd go all even frets.

 

[Colma]

Re: Why are the inlays where they are on a guitar

inlays + fret markers are so freaking annoying~ they slowed me down a lot untill i could afford my custom guitar ( no inlays / fret markers ) im doing okay now =)

 

[Jag513]

Re: Why are the inlays where they are on a guitar

Well I would guess that the frets are marked by mathematical division (harmonics of a standing wave). The 12th fret marks the midway point between the nut and bridge (halving the wavelength of a standing wave doubles the frequency; produces a tone an octave higher). Like that, there are major harmonics at the 5th and 7th frets. It seems weird to put markers at all even frets, plus the 5th and 7th, so I guess makers decided the thing that was most pleasing to the eye was to put markers at all the odd frets (minus the 11th and 13th, because they are right next to the 12th) and the 12th.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Why are the inlays where they are on a guitar

If you assign the number 1 to all of the markers on the fretboard and add them up, then multiply by the number of frets, and then divide by 6 if there are 6 inline tuners, and by 3 if it's a 3x3 configuration, and take the square root of that number....you will always come up with Pi.

It's simple mathmatics really.

 

[B2D]

Re: Why are the inlays where they are on a guitar

Here's the really wild part... I prefer dotless boards because of a) The look of it b) not having a guide makes it easier to think "outside the box" for me.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Why are the inlays where they are on a guitar

Looking at the fretboard, that makes sense-- but is that the original intent?

I know for a fact that its some scale, but I just can´t remember which one exactly or find my notes.....

But Johnjohn actually isn´t too far off, a good logical mind is a powerful thing

 

[extendedping]

Re: Why are the inlays where they are on a guitar

im more confused then ever but i too wonder if not having all these markings would eventutally help one think outside the box and actually learn the fretboard better.

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: Why are the inlays where they are on a guitar

I love inlays! I love the look and the ease that comes frome knowing they're there.

I know the first fret doesn't have an inlay on most guitars because it is considered frivolous, that's why only the most expensive guitars have ever had inlays on the first fret. (LP customs, 355s, Doves, certain Gretches).

The reason of their placement (I have always thought) was simply to denote 2 half steps, until the 11th fret, then they inlaid again for the octave, and resumed in the same pattern, (unless you have a guitar with a 1rst fret inlay)

I could be way off base though.

As far as rulers not liking dissonance, if I remember my music history it was believed that the devil/s notes were the dissonant chord voicings.

Luke

 

[LesStrat]

Re: Why are the inlays where they are on a guitar

I like Jeff's answer.

 

[FPA_687]

Re: Why are the inlays where they are on a guitar

[...]
This whole thread has gotten me thinking of the origins of the guitar,(as we know it today).
Although it is often associated as an American creation,it really isn't.It's just an amalgamation of ideas.
Now before any of you flag wavers prop up your soap boxes this isn't meant as a shot or jibe,(that means a poke at someone),this is just observation.
[...]

Well, until now I thought the origins of the guitar as we know it today, were quite clear. Not for enjoyment, Gibson has even got an entire line of electric guitars with the name 'ES' (Electric Spanish).

Traditionally the Gibson Company was aimed at building Spanish type guitars, Mandolins an other instruments.

The origin of the modern American guitar ( acoustic and electric ) is the Spanish Guitar, not the medieval European. A different or additional thing is that they have taken ideas from other instruments form other parts of the World.

Wait a moment.

...


I'm waving a flag!

:smack: :laugh2: :burnout:

 

[Imp]

Re: Why are the inlays where they are on a guitar

its much easier to get harmonics on the notes you find inlays on i think.. there's maths too, i think the pitch of each fretted note goes up in an exponential curve as you go up the neck?

tom