Do you use the French Dot or American 9th fret marker

Stringswinger

Mandos and Banjos are tuned differently.

I used to have a problem with the 10th Fret marker. Now I just look at the fretboard and see which I am playing and don't think much about it. My DuPont has a 9th Fret marker (the original owner had it moved). My Favino has a 10th fret marker. I'm good either way.

That said, I prefer the 9th. I am an American. YMMV

klaatu

I'm an American as well, now living in Canada, played American guitars with 9th fret markers for 50 years. With some effort, I've totally converted to 10. Now only my Martin D28 and vintage Epiphone archtop have 9s, and they throw me off a bit. I rarely play the former, and the latter is strictly used as a rhythm instrument, so it's no big deal.

Can't recall where I read this, but someone said that Selmer went with 10 because they wanted to appeal to all the jazz banjo players who were switching to guitar.

normsfun

Not good to be dependent on the dots. Close eyes and play.

klaatu

normsfun wrote:

Not good to be dependent on the dots. Close eyes and play.

If only!!!

normsfun

klaatu wrote:

normsfun wrote:

Not good to be dependent on the dots. Close eyes and play.

If only!!!

Okay, keep your eyes open, but turn off the lights!

Those who think you really need a dot at the 9th or 10th fret might want to consider that most
Classical guitars usually have only one side dot at the 7th fret and some have no markers at all.
I think most people can learn to play without looking if they work at it.

klaatu

normsfun wrote:

Okay, keep your eyes open, but turn off the lights!

I'd like to see someone develop fluorescent side markers before I go turning off the lights. Or maybe they have ...

Jazzaferri

Classic guitars and many flamenco guitars do not have dots and they survive and play ok

klaatu

Jazzaferri wrote:

Classic guitars and many flamenco guitars do not have dots and they survive and play ok

Yeah, and Doc Watson and Jeff Healey and Reverend Gary Davis got along without even seeing the guitar. The rest of us rely on dots.

Jazzaferri

Lol .... What about a cane

noodlenot

i have a guitar with 9th dot, one with 10th dot and one with no dots... makes no biggie. i agree that you should play with your eyes closed. i´m a terrible player, but still manage to play without looking at the fretboard (it´also comes handy when you´re trying to convert to the gypsy way of picking - then you can really focus on the right hand an still play melodic lines).