What are Guitar Fret Markers For?

Single fret marker on an odd fret

Every electric and acoustic guitar has fret markers.

Fret markers are these little, usually white markers spread around the guitar neck and their main reason for being there is to help the performer to navigate through the fingerboard.

For instance, you are playing open chords on the first position and the you have to play a note high on the neck, let's say on the 14th fret.

In a fraction of a second you can just look where the 15h fret marker is and then play a the note on the fret just behind it.

Without the fret maker this would require a lot of practice to be done without mistake.

Use it as much as you can!

Of course the goal is to play without looking at the fingerboard, and you should always be practising that, especially if you play and sing at the same time.

But while you can't do that, it's very helpful if you use the fret markers as visual guidance.

I see many beginners not giving the necessary attention to it and think it's a big mistake.

Use this helpful "favour" the guitar is doing at your favour and your life will be easier.

A visual reference on lessons.

If you are having or watching a guitar lesson, relying on the fret markers your teacher is playing will help you a lot for you to see where his or her finger is really landing.

How does the fret marker work?

Most important thing to keep in mind is that fret markers are on the odd frets.

Usually on 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 15th, 17th, 19th.

Double dot marker

Double dot - the mark for the 12th fret

You might notice on your guitar that on the 12th fret there is a double dot marker. This is the only double dot and also the only one that lays on an even number fret, the 12th.

The 12th fret marks the beginning of a new octave, so all the open strings will have the same name on the 12th fret, but one octave higher.

Then you just have to make some basic maths to find the notes ahead of the 12th fret. The 15h is the same as the 3rd, the 17th is the same as the 5th and the 19 is the same as the 7th.

Why does my guitar not have fret markers?

Classical guitars don't have fret markers. Some entry level do but mainly the classical guitar doesn't have, just like other string instruments like violin, double bass, viola, etc.

But you can put markers on your guitar yourself.

You can buy a set of fret markers stickers like this one and attach them to your guitar. Only be attentive to stick on the right frets.