Number of Frets

ray07101 · #1 January 31st, 2005

I have purchased a Yamaha guitar and it really only has (I think) 19 frets. I keep seeing reference for a larger number of frets on the neck and make it that is because it would be a bigger guitar. Mine is just the right size for me. Do I have any problems with a small guitar/neck?

Kirk Lorange · #2 February 1st, 2005

Don't worry ray07101, you won't be needing to get that high up the neck for a long while yet, if you're just starting out. 19 frets is quite sufficient. I've been twanging these things for 44 years and I never get up there. Everything is way too squeezed up there for my liking.

Kirk

ray07101 · #3 February 1st, 2005

Thanks Kirk. Any advice you can pass along to a beginner would be greatly appreciated.

Spyder F16 · #4 February 1st, 2005

Depends on the guitar, what notes you'll want to hit. I personally use a 21 Fretter, but as Kirk said, 19's good.

Ive seen them up to 24.

6strngs_2hmbkrs · #5 February 24th, 2005

hmm... well certain songs might call for you to hit really high notes (particularly during a solo) but you can improvise by finding that note somewhere else on the fretboard. unless it's saying you need to hit the 24th fret of the high e string... then you're screwed. lol

Spyder F16 · #6 February 24th, 2005

I have to make an addition to my post.

It turns out that there has been a guitar that has gone to 36 frets, but you were literally hitting them with a fingernail.

(It was some custom Ibanez).

allthumbs · #7 February 26th, 2005

There's a SRV tune that calls for a note at the 24th fret which I don't have. I got around it by playing the harmonic where the 24th fret would be. Took a while to memorize the sweet spot.
allthumbs