FretFind2D is a two dimensional fretboard design tool. FretFind2D doesn't just calculate fret spacing. It models the entire fretboard, strings and frets, as a system of line segments on a two dimensional plane, ready to download and print.
For normal Guitars the simple options are totally enough. If you want to work with multiple scale lengths and non-parallel frets, turn on the extended mode.
The scale length is the playing/speaking length of the string measured from the nut to the bridge. It is perhaps more properly twice the distance from the nut to the octave fret. The fundamental scale length is the length of a line drawn from the middle of the nut to the middle of the bridge. For single scale length instruments that line is the perpendicular bisector of both the nut and the bridge. I call this length "fundamental" because on a standard instrument with a narrow nut and a wide bridge the outer strings actually have a slightly longer scale length.
The scale length is the playing/speaking length of the string measured from the nut to the bridge. It is perhaps more properly twice the distance from the nut to the octave fret. Enter the actual scale length of the first (traditional high E) string.
last string scale length
perpendicular fret distance
The perpendicular fret distance is the ratio of distances along the first and last string that fall on a line perpendicular to the midline of the neck. This is used to control the angle of the nut, frets and bridge.
Traditionally this property of non-parallel-ly fretted fretboards is measured by assigning a "perpendicular fret". "Perpendicular distance" avoids two problems with the "perpendicular fret" method. First, it is possible that no fret falls into this perpendicular position. With "perpendicular distance" we avoid fractional frets. Second, it is possible and even likely with non-equal temperament fretboards that as a fret crosses the fretboard it will fall at different ratios along the strings. With "perpendicular distance" we avoid complex calculations and have more predictable results.
A value of 0 results in a perpendicular nut. A value of 1 results in a perpendicular bridge. The default 0.5 results in a perpendicular octave fret. To calculate an appropriate value for any fret, simply divide the distance of the fret from the nut by the total length of the string. In twelve tone equal temperament the values look like this:
Fret P.D. Fret P.D. 1 0.05613 13 0.52806 2 0.10910 14 0.55455 3 0.15910 15 0.57955 4 0.20630 16 0.60315 5 0.25085 17 0.62542 6 0.29289 18 0.64645 7 0.33258 19 0.66629 8 0.37004 20 0.68502 9 0.40540 21 0.70270 10 0.43877 22 0.71938 11 0.47027 23 0.73513 12 0.50000 24 0.75000
The scale length is the playing/speaking length of the string measured from the nut to the bridge. It is perhaps more properly twice the distance from the nut to the octave fret. Enter the actual scale length of the each string.
The perpendicular fret distance is the ratio of distances along the first and last string that fall on a line perpendicular to the midline of the neck. This is used to control the angle of the nut, frets and bridge.
Traditionally this property of non-parallel-ly fretted fretboards is measured by assigning a "perpendicular fret". "Perpendicular distance" avoids two problems with the "perpendicular fret" method. First, it is possible that no fret falls into this perpendicular position. With "perpendicular distance" we avoid fractional frets. Second, it is possible and even likely with non-equal temperament fretboards that as a fret crosses the fretboard it will fall at different ratios along the strings. With "perpendicular distance" we avoid complex calculations and have more predictable results.
A value of 0 results in a perpendicular nut. A value of 1 results in a perpendicular bridge. The default 0.5 results in a perpendicular octave fret. To calculate an appropriate value for any fret, simply divide the distance of the fret from the nut by the total length of the string. In twelve tone equal temperament the values look like this:
Fret P.D. Fret P.D. 1 0.05613 13 0.52806 2 0.10910 14 0.55455 3 0.15910 15 0.57955 4 0.20630 16 0.60315 5 0.25085 17 0.62542 6 0.29289 18 0.64645 7 0.33258 19 0.66629 8 0.37004 20 0.68502 9 0.40540 21 0.70270 10 0.43877 22 0.71938 11 0.47027 23 0.73513 12 0.50000 24 0.75000
This is the distance along the nut from the center of the first string to the center of the last string. The remaining strings are equally divided between these two points.
This is the distance along the bridge from the center of the first string to the center of the last string. The remaining strings are equally divided between these two points.
nut | |
bridge |
last | first |
last | first | |
nut | ||
bridge |
The fretboard overhang is the distance from the center of outer strings to edge of nut or bridge.
There are four input modes for overhang:
Equal: you enter a single value and the overhang will be constant.
Nut & Bridge: allows you to specify one overhang at the nut and another overhang at the bridge.
First & Last: allows you to specify one overhang for the first string and another for the last string.
All: you specify an overhang for all four locations separately.
The first string is shown on the far right
where the high E string would be on a typical right-handed guitar.
The last string is on the far left, where the low E would be found.
For fretboards with multiple scale lengths this is calculated as delta x distance,
distance measured along a line drawn perpendicular to the neck's midline.
You can Download the results in different file formats for different usage cases. For printing out the fretboard in the right size, PDF multi page is recommended.
Choose your paper format to print the fretboard directly
Get a PDF without site break.
DXF files are widely used in CAD programs
File with a graphical output of the fretboard
File with the calculated data to open in web browsers
This file contains the pure data to be opend in spreadsheed programs like excel.
File with the calculated data.
Save all your submissions in a Link, that will be shown as URL in browsers adress bar.
For more file types turn on the extended mode.
The original version is available on GitHub.