![]() ![]() On a very rounded radius, however, notes sometimes ‘choke out’ when you bend them because of the more pronounced ‘hump’ in the middle of the fretboard. One of the reasons why this size was so popular in the period between the 1950s and 80s was because it suited rhythm guitar, which was the predominant force in music before musicians started to refine more intricate styles. This kind of specification is great for playing in lower neck positions, standard shapes, as well as a great range of barre chords. The best example is the 7.25”, which was the most popular size across a number of brands for many years and is now the defining feature of Fender’s Vintage style collection. The most common sizes you’ll find on the market are 9.5”, 7.25” and the 12”, but the key distinctions are usually broken down into two schools of thought:Ī smaller radius and, therefore, more rounded fingerboard, tends to better suit the natural curve of your fingers. Of course, your handspan and own natural dexterity are worth considering – though the latter can be improved by practicing. It isn’t a simple case of ‘bigger is better’ or vice versa: it all depends on your play style and what you’re looking to get out of your guitar. If you’re still not sure which yours is, here’s a good fretboard radius guide by make and model. There is also the even larger 12″ fretboard but, of course, you can also find guitars that go up in much smaller increments than these standardized sizes/widths, and try out more minor adjustments to see where your preference lies. Typically measured in inches, the most popular fretboard radius used today is 9.5″ (or 241mm), with the next most common being 7.25″ – the most prevalent option prior to the 1980s. In this case, the fretboard is placed at the top of the circle and the arc from one edge to the other is the size of the radius.Ī good tip for distinguishing between different fretboard radiuses: the greater the number, the flatter the fingerboard vice versa, the smaller the number, the more rounded the fingerboard. ![]() How Do You Measure It?Īs for the radius itself, in mathematics, the ‘radius’ is the distance from the center to the circumference (or edge) of a circle. This arc may not be quite as exaggerated, but the more ergonomic shape helps accommodate the natural curve of the hand and arching of the fingers as players cover the frets to play chords. While the back of the neck is the more rounded side – allowing for players to properly grab the neck – the fingerboard (or front side) is flatter but still has a convex arc spanning from the first string to the sixth. It is the degree of curvature on this side of the neck that is the fretboard radius. ![]() The second is what is often specified as the fingerboard, meaning the front of the neck, on which the strings and frets are actually located. The first is the neck itself, which relates to the backside of the guitar, i.e. Put simply, the fretboard of the guitar can be broken down into two different parts:
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