How far apart should frets be?

Three digits behind the comma are sufficient when using Imperial measurements (two when using metric units), as it is virtually impossible to place a fret much more accurately than to 1/1000 of an inch. The first fret is therefore placed at a distance of 1.431″ (36.48mm) from the nut.

How many frets does a dulcimer have?

All charts show the exact locations (to the thousandth of an inch) for the nut, bridge, and thirty-six frets (21 whole-number frets, plus the “half-number” frets). Each dulcimer fret position is identified three ways: 1) inches to previous fret; 2) inches to nut; 3) inches to bridge.

What are the frets on a dulcimer?

Adding that fret gives you what is often called the “blue note” of the dulcimer scale. To be technical, it is the flatted seventh note of the scale, and it lets you do two things: It lets you add a blues-style note to your songs, which can be a nice effect that gives you that immediately recognizable bluesy feel.

Are dulcimers diatonic?

The Appalachian dulcimer (many variant names; see below) is a fretted string instrument of the zither family, typically with three or four strings, originally played in the Appalachian region of the United States. The body extends the length of the fingerboard, and its fretting is generally diatonic.

Is fret spacing the same on all guitars?

Meaning if I have multiple guitars of different shapes and materials, but all of the guitars have the same length of string, will their fret spacing be identical? Yes. Two guitars with the same scale length will have the same fret position.

Does scale length affect fret spacing?

Fret Spacing For example, a shorter scale guitar like a Gibson Les Paul (24.75″) will have frets that are slightly closer together than those on a Fender Stratocaster (25.5″). This is because as scale length increases, so does the distance between frets.

How do you calculate fret spacing?

Divide any scale’s open string length by 17.817, and the result is the distance from the front edge of the nut to the first fret. For several centuries, this number was rounded to 18 and referred to as the “rule of 18.”

Is mountain dulcimer hard to play?

Easy to Play The fact that the dulcimer has only three strings makes it much easier to play than a guitar, banjo, mandolin, or fiddle. It is also not as hard to push the strings down as it is on a guitar. Simple songs can be played by fretting just the first string and strumming across the instrument.

Can you play a dulcimer like a guitar?

Both instruments are considered traditional American instruments. The music is heavy on fiddle tunes, folk songs and sacred songs. You can play tunes the very first time you pick it up, even if you can’t read music. The neck of the dulcimer is fretted like a guitar.

Do guitars have different fret spacing?

The spacing of the frets depends solely on the scale length of the guitar – which is easiest to understand if you think of it as being the distance between the nut and the saddle. The nut is the slotted piece that is located at the base of the headstock and establishes the string spacing at that end of the guitar neck.

What should the FRET distance be on a dulcimer?

A dulcimer that is fretted to play using the equal tempered scale will play in tune with most other (Western) instruments. When I began making dulcimers I was taught to divide the string length by 17.81715385 and the resulting number would be the distance from the nut to the first fret.

How do you make a dulcimer out of a strumstick?

The side was bent using a pipe and blow lamp. The tail block was shaped and glued on. I made the kerfed lining from the beading. giving me a slight neck angle. I made the neck then cut and glued the scarf joint. The neck heel will also be the neck block. The ribs will be glued to the sides of the block/heel. I forgot to take a pic.

How to make a diatonic chromatic fretboard?

So here it is in a nutshell: to create a diatonic (dulcimer) fretboard, just start with a chromatic fretting template and leave out these frets: 1, 3, 6, 8, (10), 13, 15, 18, 20, (22). Finally, some top-secret high-tech advanced stuff: the Blue Note

Can a dulcimer be played on an equal tempered scale?

There are many discussions about temperament, scale length, etc. Most current fretted instruments in the Western world are fretted to play in equal temperament. A dulcimer that is fretted to play using the equal tempered scale will play in tune with most other (Western) instruments.