Fret marker

TomThumbs

Got my DG-300. She's perfect and beautiful........However........
This is probably an ignorant question, but what is the thinking with putting the fret marker at the tenth fret? I didn't think it would bother me, and I'll probably get used to it in time, but why? Is there some musical basis for this? Inquiring minds need to know. :-)

Tom

sockeye

It's the European tradition -- you also see it a lot on banjos and ukuleles for whatever reason.

As far as the logic behind it, you have the notes D, G, C, F, A, D at the 10th fret and C#, F#, B, E, G#, C# at the 9th fret so as a mnemonic aid it probably makes more sense.

Having said that, I'm so used to a dot at the 9th fret that I don't think I'll ever get used to a guitar with a 10th-fret dot.

TomThumbs

sockeye wrote:

As far as the logic behind it, you have the notes D, G, C, F, A, D at the 10th fret and C#, F#, B, E, G#, C# at the 9th fret so as a mnemonic aid it probably makes more sense.

Yeah, I can see that it makes a bit more sense musically. Guess I'll have to get my head around it eventually. In the mean time I'll probably keep overshooting my mark, or break out the dremel tool.

Thanks,
Tom

Ian Rossiter

I did too, but after transcribing a few solo's and tunes, it didn't bother me at all, it actually kinda works better for some things. After 25 years with the dot on the 9th, I figured it'd be murder. Some of my mandolins over the years had them on the 10th ( mabey all. I can't remember!!!) .

bill raymond

I'm always surprised that anyone pays any attention to those things. On a classic guitar there are no position markers (usually), and those of us who play with a classical background don't seem to have any trouble finding the right fretjavascript:emoticon(':)').

sockeye

double post

sockeye

I'm OK with a guitar that has no markers! But to me the dot on that part of the neck is a visual cue that I will find the 9th fret there, which has been true on the guitars I learned on, and most of the ones I've played for the past 25+ years. Without dots, I'm OK but if that dot is moved to the 10th fret, it gets me all disoriented.

bill raymond

Well, that's weird; I tried to put one of those emoticon things in, and the words "javascript:emoticon" appears along with the emoticon itself.

TomThumbs

I too, cut my teeth studying classical guitar, but I don't find I play that much anymore and have become (sadly) used to the dots being where they have always been.
We are resilient creatures, so I am getting very used to the tenth fret dot.......and it does indeed make more sense to me now, musically.
On the other hand, on the occasion that I pick up my classical, I am a bit lost for a while, but soon become adjusted to the absence of dots. And I might add, that I'm just enough of a classical snob to appreciate the tradition of no markers on the fretboard. :-)
To be honest, it sort of bothers me that certain acoustic guitar makers are producing "cross-over" type classical guitars with thin necks and lots of dots. Come on, if you're going to play a classical guitar, play a classical guitar. Stretch those little fingers. My $.02.

Tom