Guitar/Banjo Position Marker Location

Subject: Guitar/Banjo Position Marker Location
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 15 Dec 03 - 10:25 AM

Just something that's always bothered me...

Position markers on guitars are usually placed at frets 5, 7, 9, and 12. On banjos they are usually placed at frets 5, 7, 10, and 12. Does anybody know any reason why fret 9 is a more logical placement on guitar while fret 10 is more logical on banjo? Or is it merely a matter of "Either one will work but guitar builders have always liked 9 while banjo builders are 10 fans."

I know that when I was learning banjo, after many years of playing guitar, I didn't realize there was a difference for a couple of days. I thought I'd lost my mind until I took the time to count them. Then I thought the builder had screwed up until I started noticing that they're all that way.

How 'bout it? Any good reasons or just something to make you go, "Hmmmm...."?

Bruce

Subject: RE: Guitar/Banjo Position Marker Location
From: Mooh
Date: 15 Dec 03 - 10:38 AM

This was a recent mandolin cafe topic too. Don't know if these are the real reasons, but they're reason enough for me.

Can't say I notice them much on guitar, but on mandolin the 10th fret marker on one pair of strings is the same note as the 3rd fret marker on the next higher pitched pair of strings. This facilitates like fingerings across the strings in locations seperated by 7 frets.

The 9th fret 3rd string marker on guitar is the same pitch as the open 1st string, same goes for the 9th fret 4th string and the open 2nd string.

Are you talking about 4 or 5 string banjo?

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Guitar/Banjo Position Marker Location
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 15 Dec 03 - 10:58 AM

Both of my 5-strings and my tenor all have 'em at 10. I'd never even noticed that it's also true of the mandolin, but I just looked at mine and it's true. I guess I'm such a crappy mandolin player that it's never been an issue.

Subject: RE: Guitar/Banjo Position Marker Location
From: Brian Hoskin
Date: 15 Dec 03 - 10:59 AM

I'm not saying that this is the reason for the position markers on a banjo, but I've always found these useful for playing in the key of G - the markers at 5,7, 10 and 12 indicate the positions of the C and D notes. I don't know if this makes sense to anybody else, but it does to me.

Subject: RE: Guitar/Banjo Position Marker Location
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 03:12 AM

Fylde mandolins have the marker on the ninth which is c sharp on the first string, unusual and confusing.
eric

Subject: RE: Guitar/Banjo Position Marker Location
From: GUEST,banjoman
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 05:58 AM

Don't know if this is relevany but here goes.

The markings on the guitar (& banjo) are a relic of the early instruments such as Lute & Guitar where there was a hole drilled thro' the kneck through which a wooden "T" shaped peg was put and tightened down and was the fore runner of the modern Capo. These were placed normally at the third & fifth frets but could be different at individuals specification.

My owm instruments seem to correspond to what you all have been saying but I never use them as markers only as decoration which I believe is now their only purpose.
Hope this helps

Subject: RE: Guitar/Banjo Position Marker Location
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 07:00 AM

10th fret/12th fret would be handy to find quickly if you're playing a modal tune that uses, say, Gmaj and Fmaj chords; on a guitar, it's much more tricky to play chords up there, as the body of the instrument gets in the way. But I guess this is coincidental rather than intentional.I'd be interested to hear the actual reason, if there is one.

Steve

Subject: RE: Guitar/Banjo Position Marker Location
From: Willie-O
Date: 16 Dec 03 - 08:41 AM

Considering the most common keys for guitar music, and assuming capo use, the 3-5-7-9 deal has always seemed weird to me. Because when capoing at fifth fret, which of course is common since it puts you in C in standard tuning (or G in DADGAD), all the markers are in the wrong places: 2-4.

That's why I have developed the antisocial habit of fourth-fret capo at least for some solo pieces I do. The scale length seems comfortable there as well--you get a good reach, but it still sounds like a guitar not a mandolin.

W-O