Guitar Scale Length Chart

This is a really useful tool for calculating distance between frets on various guitars. A kind of scale length calculator widget, it will show you just how far apart those frets are on other instruments. Simply navigate using your computer keyboard keys or click on instrument buttons in order to explore the chart. No need for a ruler when this is around. Learn more about how frets is spaced and how scale length impacts string tension.

Fourteen popular bass and guitar models is displayed in the interface, spanning everything from extended-range basses through to short-scale electrics. A button for each instrument appear with its scale length clearly shown and named. On top is a primary instrument selector, beneath which there’s another row to display two necks side by side for comparison. Simply choose your next model and the chart refreshes immediately, allowing you to quickly experiment with various lengths.

How to Use the Fret Spacing Tool

To begin, simply click on one of the buttons corresponding with the instrument you wish to learn about. It will redraw a graphic of its neck and display scale length in your selected units. You can also toggle back and forth between millimeter and inch measurements whenever needed using the buttons just underneath the fretboard image. No need to reload the page, it’s all done within the same system you’re working with so it makes the experience easier.

If you want to compare any of these with another instrument simply click on ‘Compare With’ underneath the main selector. Here, select your other guitar and it appears on the chart in amber. Below the necks is a table that shows which fret falls where from the nut on both guitars. It then shows the difference between them, letting you see exactly how much more stretch you will need on the longer scale.

Each fret position number is exact. It tells you how far that fret is from the nut and how much further the next one is in a column. When nothing is selected for a comparison, you can see what percentage of the scale length each fret occupies. This helps you check if certain notes are mathematicaly where they should be on the string.

Using the Hear the difference button plays a low E note based off the chosen scale so you can hear the impact of scale length on tone. At the same pitch, longer scales are brighter and tighter because they have higher string tension. Shorter ones are slinkier and warmer, which helps understand how easy it is to bend and what a bend feels like.

Use the slider on the lower right of the page to turn up/down the sound. This is the master output level for the audio demonstration. If you’re listening in a public area keep it down, otherwise crank it up and listen for the tonal contrast. If you’ve chosen a comparison instrument then the audio will play one after another so that you can hear the difference straight away.

The widget is also well laid out for those working with keyboards and easily navigated using the Tab key. Just tap Tab to jump from one audio control, unit toggle, or instrument button to another. Then tap on Spacebar or Enter to make your selection or press the chosen button. You can do everything without a mouse using normal keyboard commands.

If you want a bit more screen space, you have full-screen mode available. To take the widget up to the full width of your window just click the Fullscreen button. This will help if you are viewing this on a small screen and find the fretboard diagram or data table feels a bit cramped. At any time you can click the Fullscreen button again (or press the Escape key) to return out of fullscreen mode.

A handy reference, the help panel outlines the calculations behind the chart. Tap How to play and it shows you a rundown of the rules for fret spacings and how the scale length formula works. As a reminder: Fret 12 is always exactly half the scale length. It is a good check point when double checking your measurement for a set up.

To look at some of these differences, try looking for examples of instruments that have a similar scale length and then compare them to each other. The difference can be as little as a quarter inch, but if you look at the chart above, you can see how it adds up down the neck. At higher frets, you may be shocked at how much more string stretch you need to apply on the larger model. These visuals can help in deciding what strings or set-up options is right for you.

For those who like to play, you can listen using the audio function to hear how the scales sound tonally. You can also hear the difference when playing on different instruments such as a short-scale jazz box versus a long-scale stratocaster. It models the change in brightness and sustain to match what players might expect to hear themselves. This not only adds realism to the sense of feel but complements the numbers with an understanding of how it sounds.

Try some of the extra-long scale instruments to see what can be achieved regarding tension control. With longer scales, like on seven- or eight-string guitars, there is a tighter fit for the lower strings giving them clearer definition. Even longer are the scales found on bass guitars that need to retain clarity in the bottom end. This table gives an insight into how these lengths support different tunings and gauges.

For those of us who are gear nuts, luthiers, and players alike, this is a handy little widget. It gives precise information about scale lengths so we no longer have to guess when comparing them. Whether it’s troubleshooting your setup or deciding on a new instrument, it works. Have it open in a tab as you browse forums and read reviews for immediate confirmation. Do spend some time browsing through the specs of the various models. It is all fixed and correct information that you can check at any time.

Remember, there’s no ‘wrong’ scale length, just varying tools for differing applications. Refer to this chart when seeking a length that fits most suitably to your own playing. To begin, choose the guitar of your choice and look at the fret positions. Next, select an alternative guitar and compare the spacing. Listen to the sound samples that show the different tones. This should of soon help you develop a greater feel for how scale length impacts the guitar.