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Topic: Modified Fretboard Icons for D9th |
Fred Bova
From:
Connecticut, USA
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Posted 18 Jul 2007 10:51 pm |
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Hi, I was reading a few old posts where a few people said they would like to setup and play in D9th, but they would get thrown because of the fret markers not relating to standard guitar/E.
Well, how many of us "count" the frets when we play ?
Ok, now how many of us use the Icon Fret Markers to tell us the Fret/Key when we play ?
For example, if you play a Sho-Bud
"Heart"=3=G
"Spade"=5=A
"Diamond"=7=B
"Club"=9=C#
"4 Icon Marker"=12=E
Etc.
So,....
Why not;
Tune to D9th
Put a "4 Icon Marker" on the 2nd Fret="Nut"=E
Move all of the other Icons up 2 frets
"Heart"=5=G
"Spade"=7=A
"Diamond"=9=B
"Club"=11=C#
"4 Icon Marker"=14=E
Etc.
I know I could get used to this in a heartbeat.
I am planing on doing something like this on a Long Scale Tele that I will play with a Capo on the 2nd fret 70% of the time. I am tired of changing guitars every other song. We do a lot of songs that require a lot of open strings in the key of D, and G, and Bb.
On the Tele I will mark the Fretboard Icons as above, "Special" on 2nd fret,where the Capo will reside 70% of the time, and all the other Icons up 2 frets from Normal. Heart at 5, Spade at 7, Diamond at 9, etc.
And on the SIDE of the neck I will have Dot markers as usual at 3, 5, 7, etc. for ref. use when the Capo is not in use.
This way when I am in "E" (the Capo on the 2nd fret) I will use the Fingerboard Icons as my ref., and ...
When I am in "D",(No Capo), I can use the side of the neck Dot markers as my ref.
What do you think,
Fred |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 19 Jul 2007 7:52 am
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I think you should just play the durn thing, and forget about putting funny markers on it. 
These types of "individualized customizations" will leave you at a loss if you ever have to play another guitar, so I tend to look at it like this...
"About ninety-nine percent of the players out there can play without _______. Do I really need it?" |
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Brint Hannay
From:
Maryland, USA
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Posted 19 Jul 2007 8:19 am
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| I find it hard to imagine that anyone would actually be relying on what kind of icons they are. I'm sure what those people meant is that they rely on the marked frets to know where they are, and in D9th 3rd fret isn't G any more. While playing, I'm entirely unconscious of what shape or color the icons are, just that they're there. I'd be happy with simple dots, like on most guitars. Why doesn't anybody make steels that way? |
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 19 Jul 2007 8:51 am
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| I think I would put the markers on the fretboard in the conventional places, so the guitar looks right. Any custom markings I'd put on the side of the neck where only I could see them. |
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Lee Baucum
From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
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Posted 19 Jul 2007 9:23 am
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| I like David's idea; however, I can see the advantage of have a reference point for where the "E fret" starts and then having the normal markers going up from there. |
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Brint Hannay
From:
Maryland, USA
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Posted 19 Jul 2007 10:04 am
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| I would think if you could get used to playing with an unconventionally marked fretboard, you could just as well get used to knowing the fretboard "in D". Kind of like what D-10 players do to move between E9th and C6th necks with markers in the same places. |
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