Douglas Niedt is a successful concert and recording artist and highly respected master classical guitar teacher with 50 years of teaching experience. He is Associate Professor of Music (retired), at the Conservatory of Music and Dance, University of Missouri-Kansas City and a Fellow of the Henry W. Bloch School of Management—Regnier Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
Doug studied with such diverse masters as Andrés Segovia, Pepe Romero, Christopher Parkening, Narciso Yepes, Oscar Ghiglia, and Jorge Morel. Therefore, Doug provides solutions for you from a variety of perspectives and schools of thought.
He gives accurate, reliable advice that has been tested in performance on the concert stage that will work for you at home.
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For all modern instruments, we calculate fret positions using the method known as the 12th root of 2: (or 21/12), which is the same constant used to calculate the frequencies of notes in equal temperament. The calculators above use this constant to calculate fret positions for any scale length.
In instruments built before 1920 (and even some built later in the 20th century), luthiers calculated fret positions using the “Rule of 18.”
For a deep dive into both systems, see https://www.liutaiomottola.com/formulae/fret.htm. The site is run by R. M. Mottola, whose comprehensive knowledge of anything to do with plucked string instrument building is staggering. The website, Liutaio Mottola, contains a fantastic collection of design, research, and educational resources for the lutherie community.
HOW TO MEASURE FRET DISTANCES
For the most accurate measurements, use a digital caliper.
We want to take measurements to or from the apex of the crown of the fret wires. However, it can be challenging to find the exact point of the apex. Therefore, use this procedure.
To measure the distance from the nut to a fret:
In the center of the fretboard (between the 3rd and 4th strings), measure from the point at which the nut joins the fretboard to the nut side of the fret wire.
Next, measure the width of the fret wire.
Finally, add half the width of the fret wire to your initial nut-to-fret measurement.
To measure the distance from one fret to another fret:
In the center of the fretboard (between the 3rd and 4th strings), measure the distance between the bridge side of the lower fret and the nut side of the higher fret.
Next, measure the width of one of the fret wires.
Finally, add the width of the fret wire to your initial fret-to-fret measurement.
HOW DO I DETERMINE THE SCALE LENGTH OF MY GUITAR?
To determine the scale length of a modern guitar (without nut compensation), measure the distance from the front edge of the nut (where it butts against the end of the fretboard) to the center of the 12th fret wire. Double the measurement, and that is the scale length of the guitar. This method negates the effects of nut-to-bridge-saddle compensation.
WHAT IS THE USUAL SCALE LENGTH OF A CLASSICAL GUITAR?
In the classical guitar world today, a scale length of 650 mm is the norm. Luthiers also make short-scale guitars with a 640 mm scale length. In the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, many Spanish guitars had a 660 mm string length. Ramirez guitars had a 664 mm or 665 mm string length. Some guitar makers, such as José Ramirez, thought that a longer scale length combined with other innovations would make the guitar louder and more powerful. There are many beautiful-sounding guitars with long scale lengths, but many guitarists find them hard to play.
