๐ธ Fret Distance Calculator
Theoretical values based on 12-tone equal temperament. Real instruments have manufacturing tolerances.
| Fret | From nut | From previous |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1.431 in | 1.431 in |
| 2 | 2.782 in | 1.351 in |
| 3 | 4.057 in | 1.275 in |
| 4 | 5.261 in | 1.203 in |
| 5 | 6.397 in | 1.136 in |
| 6 | 7.469 in | 1.072 in |
| 7 | 8.481 in | 1.012 in |
| 8 | 9.436 in | 0.955 in |
| 9 | 10.338 in | 0.902 in |
| 10 | 11.189 in | 0.851 in |
| 11 | 11.992 in | 0.803 in |
| 12 | 12.750 in | 0.758 in |
| 13 | 13.466 in | 0.716 in |
| 14 | 14.141 in | 0.675 in |
| 15 | 14.779 in | 0.638 in |
| 16 | 15.380 in | 0.602 in |
| 17 | 15.948 in | 0.568 in |
| 18 | 16.484 in | 0.536 in |
| 19 | 16.990 in | 0.506 in |
| 20 | 17.468 in | 0.478 in |
| 21 | 17.919 in | 0.451 in |
| 22 | 18.344 in | 0.425 in |
| 23 | 18.746 in | 0.402 in |
| 24 | 19.125 in | 0.379 in |
Enter a guitar or bassโs scale length (the string length from nut to bridge) to calculate the distance from the nut to each fret, using the standard equal-temperament formula. Useful for instrument building, modification, or marking fretless fingerboards.
How to use
- Enter the scale length.
- Select the unit (inches or millimeters).
- Enter how many frets to calculate.
- Each fretโs distance from the nut, and from the previous fret, is listed.
FAQ
What formula does this use?
Distance from the nut to fret n = scale length ร (1 - 1/2^(n/12)) โ the standard equal-temperament fret spacing formula (the exact exponential form, equivalent to the traditional "rule of 18").
Why is the 12th fret always exactly half the scale length?
The 12th fret corresponds to one octave higher, and since an octave is a 2:1 frequency ratio in equal temperament, it always lands at exactly half the scale length.
Can I use this for building a fretless bass?
Yes โ itโs useful for calculating the positions of pitch reference marking lines on a fretless fingerboard.