Thinking about swapping your regular frets for a microtonal guitar neck might feel like a leap into the particular unknown, but it's actually one of the coolest things you can do for your performing. For many of us, the guitar is a grid of twelve notes. We all grow up learning that C leads to C#, that leads to D, and that's just how the world works. But when you see a neck with those "extra" frets tucked within between the usual areas, you realize we've been leaving plenty of music on the particular table.
It's a bit such as living your entire life seeing only twelve colors and suddenly someone fingers a box of sixty-four crayons. It's overwhelming at first, sure, but as soon as you start doodling, you can't actually go back to the old method without feeling like something is missing.
Breaking Away of the Twelve-Tone Box
The standard guitar is built on what's known as 12-tone equal temperament. It's a give up we've used regarding centuries to ensure we can play in each and every key without the instrument sounding away of tune. Yet the "pure" notes—the ones found within nature's harmonic series—don't always land specifically where our frets are. When you bolt on a microtonal guitar neck , you're essentially saying you want access to these "in-between" notes.
You've probably noticed microtonality without actually realizing it. When you've ever listened to traditional Turkish music, Indian traditional ragas, as well as simply a really soulful blues player "curling" a note somewhat sharp, you've heard microtones. The distinction is that a microtonal neck provides you with a fixed, repeatable place to find individuals sounds. You aren't just guessing along with a string bend; the note is right there, strong and ringing.
Why Everyone Is Suddenly Talking About Microtones
In the event that you've spent any kind of time on Dailymotion or in gear forums lately, you've probably seen some wild-looking fretboards. A lot of this recent hype comes back to bands like King Gizzard & The Lizard Sorcerer. They famously required some cheap guitars, slapped extra frets on them, and created a whole new psychedelic sound that will felt both ancient and futuristic.
But it's not just regarding psych-rock. Jazz gamers use them to find more "pure" intervals that sound incredibly lush compared to standard fine tuning. Metal players make use of them to create eerie, dissonant riffs that you just can't replicate on a normal Ibanez or even Gibson. A microtonal guitar neck isn't just the gimmick; it's the tool for anybody who feels such as they've hit the wall with standard theory.
The particular Learning Curve (It's Not as Bad as It Looks)
I'll be truthful: the 1st time you look down at the microtonal fretboard, this looks like a math equation long gone wrong. There are tiny frets all over the place, as well as your muscle storage will scream in you. You move to play an electrical chord, and instantly your fingers don't know where in order to land.
However, most people find that will if they keep their "standard" frets as the core points, the extra notes just turn out to be ornaments. You don't have to relearn the whole guitar. You simply have in order to learn in which the "blue" notes or maybe the "neutral thirds" are. It's a lot such as learning to use a slide. You're nevertheless playing guitar; a person just have even more choices for how in order to get from stage A to point B.
Various kinds of Microtonal Necks
Not all microtonal setups are created equal. Depending on what you're wanting to obtain, you might choose a very specific design.
- 24-TET (Quarter Tones): This is usually the most typical "entry-level" microtonal setup. This basically splits every half-step into two. It's great for Middle Eastern scales plus gives you that distinct "out associated with tune but in an excellent way" vibe.
- Simply Intonation: This really is more regarding math and chastity. The frets are usually placed to fit the exact physics of a vibrating chain. It sounds extremely harmonious—almost like the guitar is singing.
- Custom made Temperaments: Some players move totally off the particular deep end plus design their very own weighing scales. If you would like a neck that will only plays seventeen or 22 notes per octave, a person can find builders who will do that for you.
Can You Just "Add" Frets to Your Current Neck?
Technically, indeed, you can. Individuals have been "refretting" regular necks for yrs by sawing brand-new slots and hammering in bits of fret wire. Yet let's be true: it's a headache to do nicely. If your measurements are off by a fraction associated with a millimeter, the particular whole neck is usually junk.
That's why most individuals opt for a dedicated microtonal guitar neck . Purchasing a neck that was CNC-machined for precision is nearly always a better move than attempting a DIY task on your favorite Strat. Plus, several necks are made to be "drop-in" replacements. You unscrew your old neck, bolt on the new one, plus you're ready to get weird.
The Physical Sense and Setup
Playing on a microtonal neck seems different. Because generally there are more frets packed into the equivalent space, things will get a bit crowded, especially past the 12th fret. You might discover yourself utilizing the ideas of your fingers more precisely compared to you used to.
Setup is definitely also a little more finicky. Intonation will be the large one. In case your connection isn't perfectly altered, those microtonal intervals will sound like a mess instead of a melody. I usually recommend utilizing a slightly heavier line gauge than you're used to. The particular extra tension helps keep those small intervals stable, specifically if you have a heavy fretting hand.
Finding Your own Voice
The coolest part about getting a microtonal guitar neck isn't the concept or the math—it's the "accidents. " Whenever you're noodling around and you stumble on to a chord that will seems like nothing you've ever heard before, that's where the magic happens.
Many of us have been playing the particular same pentatonic shapes for years. We all know exactly what the major third noises like. But a natural third? That's an entire different emotion. It's neither happy nor sad; it's some thing else entirely. It's like discovering the new room in the house you've lived in for twenty years.
Will be It Worth the particular Investment?
Look, a microtonal setup isn't for everyone. If you're taking part in within a Top forty cover band plus you have to sound exactly like the record, you most likely don't need quarter tones. But in case you're a songwriter, a producer, or just someone which is bored with the status quo, it's one associated with the best investments you may make.
It forces you to listen. On a standard guitar, we often enjoy with our eyes—we follow patterns and shapes. On a microtonal guitar neck , your eyes will betray you. You have to make use of your ears to find out which of all those three frets is usually the one that actually fits the particular vibe of the particular song. That kind of ear teaching is invaluable, regardless of what kind of songs you play.
Conclusions
If you're on the particular fence, I state go for it. Even though you don't finish up playing microtonal music exclusively, getting that tool within your kit will alter the way you look at a typical fretboard. You'll start to hear the "spaces" between the records even when they aren't there.
Whether or not you're buying the pre-made neck or diving to the globe of custom luthiery, the journey directly into microtonality is really a bunny hole worth falling down. It's frustrating, it's confusing, plus it's occasionally extremely weird—but that's specifically what makes this so exciting. Just be prepared for the bandmates to ask you why your guitar looks like the barcode. Once these people hear the sounds you may make with it, though, they'll probably stop laughing quite quickly.