Fret facts for kids

The neck of a guitar. The frets are the pieces running left to right under the strings that run top to bottom.

A fret is a thin strip, usually made of metal, found on the neck of many string instruments. You can see frets on instruments like guitars, mandolins, and banjos. They are placed along the long part of the instrument's neck.

Frets help musicians know exactly where to press their fingers on the strings. This makes it easier to play the correct notes and chords. Without frets, it would be much harder to play in tune!

What are Frets and How Do They Work?

Frets are like little markers that divide the instrument's neck into specific sections. Each section helps you play a different musical note. On most modern instruments, like guitars, each fret marks a "semitone." A semitone is the smallest step between two notes in Western music.

Frets and Musical Notes

Imagine a musical scale. It has different notes that go up or down in pitch. Frets help you find these notes accurately. When you press a string down just behind a fret, it changes the length of the vibrating part of the string. This change in length makes the string produce a higher or lower note.

For example, if you press a string behind the first fret, it will play a note one semitone higher than the open string (a string played without pressing it down). If you move to the second fret, the note will be two semitones higher, and so on. This system makes it simple to play melodies and chords in tune.

Different Kinds of Frets

While most modern instruments use metal strips, frets haven't always been made this way. On some older or traditional instruments, frets were made from pieces of string tied around the neck. These string frets could even be moved to change the tuning or play different musical styles.

Some instruments, especially from non-European cultures, might have "microtonal" frets. These frets allow musicians to play notes that are in between the standard semitones. This creates unique sounds and musical scales.

Why are Frets Important for Musicians?

Frets are super helpful for musicians, especially beginners. They provide clear visual and physical guides.

• Accuracy: Frets ensure that notes are played precisely in tune. This is vital for playing music that sounds good.
• Ease of Learning: For new players, frets make it much easier to learn where to place fingers. You don't have to guess where the notes are.
• Speed: Experienced musicians can move their fingers quickly and accurately along the frets. This allows them to play fast and complex pieces of music.
• Consistency: Frets help different instruments of the same type sound consistent. A note played on the third fret of one guitar will sound the same as on another.

Images for kids

• 

  The neck of a guitar showing the nut (the white part at the top) and the first four frets.

• 

  Frets tied on to the neck of a saz, a traditional string instrument. Notice the extra frets for microtonal notes.

See also

In Spanish: Traste para niños