Uploaded September 2015 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
When luthiers (guitar makers) set the frets on the fingerboard, the traditional method is known as "rule of 18", and it works like this...
The first fret is placed 1/18th of the distance from the nut at the top of the neck, to the bridge. Then, each additional fret is placed 1/18th of the remaining distance. This method puts the 12th fret exactly halfway between the nut and the bridge, and the other frets are properly placed for an equal tempered tuning.
Today, instead of 18, most luthiers use 17.817 and a few even use 17.835. Both numbers work better than 18 for most steel string guitars, although 18 works well with gut or nylon string guitars.
To help guitarists play more in-tune, many manufacturers offer adjustable bridges that can help compensate for some strings, which might exhibit some inharmonic characteristics. These bridges can also help correct for the stretch, when the strings are pressed against the frets, which can vary over the length of the neck.
When luthiers (guitar makers) set the frets on the fingerboard, the traditional method is known as "rule of 18", and it works like this...
The first fret is placed 1/18th of the distance from the nut at the top of the neck, to the bridge. Then, each additional fret is placed 1/18th of the remaining distance. This method puts the 12th fret exactly halfway between the nut and the bridge, and the other frets are properly placed for an equal tempered tuning.
Today, instead of 18, most luthiers use 17.817 and a few even use 17.835. Both numbers work better than 18 for most steel string guitars, although 18 works well with gut or nylon string guitars.
To help guitarists play more in-tune, many manufacturers offer adjustable bridges that can help compensate for some strings, which might exhibit some inharmonic characteristics. These bridges can also help correct for the stretch, when the strings are pressed against the frets, which can vary over the length of the neck.
