Posted by bookofjoe 9 hours ago
Because of the way intonation works in string instruments (e.g. by fine-tuning the saddle of the bridge on electric guitars/basses), I think that you'd be able to have this set up to work well in a few playing positions, but just as the frets get smaller as you go higher up the neck (because of the way pitch works on a shortened string) I'd expect the intonation to get out of whack in other spots on the neck.
As a beginner player, this isn't worth worrying about, IMO. It might unlock some interesting composition options for someone writing a song for themselves... Normally, you have a bassist playing those parts for you, though.
Really having a hard time seeing any major manufacturer licensing the design and using it on any of their instruments.
A guitar has a lot of duplicated notes. The lowest 5 notes of the low E string are unique and the highest 5 of the high E for a guitar in standard tuning.
Standard tuning is EADGBe. Every fret is a half tone. So on the low E string it goes, from open E->F->F#/Gb->G->G#/Ab->A. That A is the same A as the second open string. This is how guitars are tuned to themselves, you can play the fifth fret on most strings to find out what the next string should sound like. The exception is the B which is tuned to the fourth.
It's a bit by design, you have access to a full scale within reach of your hand, no matter where your hand is.
And this really only extends the higher range. So on the high e, instead of 5 unique notes, you'll have 5 + whatever the palmfrets give you.
Now. If it jumped you an entire octave, that could possibly be cool. Basically replace an entire pedal with a bit of hardware on your bridge.
I was going to say it's a major third, but then realized you meant fourth fret.
> And this really only extends the higher range.
No, the palm frets are only under the bass strings. So what it does is allow you to play first position bass string notes at the same time as higher position treble string notes. It extends the possible chord voicings, not the whole instrument range.
If you throw in playing accompaniment simultaneously you would able to emulate what a second year classical guitar player can do in his sleep!
However, I absolutely appreciate anyone trying out new things. So props to him.