Mandola Fingerboard Fret Markers

[derekkoehl]

I decided to move from the guitar to the mandola. I am having a mandola custom built and am debating deviating slightly from the traditional positions of the fingerboard markers. I am considering whether to move the marker from the 3rd fret to the 2nd fret.

The 3rd fret position on the guitar makes sense to me as it marks not only the minor 3rd, but also the notes G, C, F on strings 6-4 and D, G on strings 2 and 1. However on the mandola (tuned CGDA), leaving the marker on the 3rd fret would still mark the minor 3rd, but would reference notes Eb, Bb, F, C as opposed to moving it to the 2nd fret which would reference notes D, A, E, B.

I understand that a mandola is intended more for melody work rather than chord strumming/rhythm work. Given that, I wanted to get people's thoughts on the usefulness of marking the minor 3rd versus marking a series of notes.

[JeffD]

I am addicted to mandolin fret markers as they are. I would get myself all confused if I departed from the standard for mandolin.

[Tobin]

My mandola doesn't have any fret markers below the 5th fret, and this seems to be the way to go. Maybe you could eliminate the difficult decision and/or potential playing confusion by going this route. Fret markers don't do much good that close to the nut anyway. They're more useful when shifting up the neck.

[Beanzy]

Here's how I use the fret markers, but only for quick glances, except for harmonics and large position shifts I try to avoid looking down at all;
3rd fret =2nd position, good if returning from up the neck
5th fret = 3rd position & 1/4 wave harmonic
7th fret = 4th position & 1/3 wave harmonic
12th fret = octave & 1/2 wave harmonic

I use the 10th fret one least of all and only as a quick reference against the 7th and 12th

[JeffD]

I use the tenth fret a lot, and I hadn't realized it until I tried a Fylde mandolin, where the ninth fret is marked, not the tenth, (like a guitar) and it drove me nuts.

[derekkoehl]

JeffD, for what purpose do you make use of the tenth fret?

[derekkoehl]

Beanzy,

Help me understand. As I look at a mandola fingerboard, if I were to use a fret marker for 2nd position, wouldn't that be the second fret? (C maj on C string: C at nut (root); D at 2nd fret (for 2nd position))? The 3rd fret would but me a half step above 2nd position.

[Beanzy]

These are probably the easiest way of showing the positions clearly

[JeffD]

JeffD, for what purpose do you make use of the tenth fret?

The fourth and the fifth are intervals very important of course, and so the dots on the fifth and seventh fret. The tenth and 12 fret are my fourth and fifth intervals when starting on the fifth fret (i.e. playing in third position). The tenth fret dot on the next string is my octave in third position.

When I play closed form moveable patterns I don't always pay close attention to what key I am in. I use my relative position to the dots as a guide. So if I am a fret below the dot at the fifth, then my octave (for example) is a fret below my dot at the tenth fret one string up.

Well, its hard to describe without holding a mandolin. But there it is.

I suppose one could get used to anything, and what is in front of you as you explore the fretboard is what you will use later. Moving a dot would be like moving a feature of the landscape, like an industrial smoke stack or a church spire, something you have used to navigate.

This is my primary problem, by the way, playing with a capo. I can't capo the dots up.

[David L]

I would certainly put them in standard positions, so they are the same as other instruments. The fret markers don't have to signify anything more than "3rd fret", or whichever. Do you really need visual help finding the second or third fret? One important aspect: put side dot markers on the neck. The side markers are the ones you should be looking at, not the fretboard. I have added side markers to many older instruments. They certainly help, esp. if you switch instruments a lot.

We used to joke, when playing with horn players, about playing "between the dots".

[Pasha Alden]

Must say I prefer mandolin markers as they are. that is also ones I added in accordance, very faintly behind the neck for me to feel where I am.

If si did anything different I would become all out of musical kilter.

[Pasha Alden]

Yes, in the beginning of playing I wondered if tiny braille markers would have assisted. They could only work in accordance with visual fret markers, and then behing the neck, otherwise the braille would actually get in the way of my playing.