Slanted Frets

[GGJaguar]

How do you play barre chords?

 

[fronobulax]

That is pretty extreme. A reason for a fretless bass guitar is that the position of the fingers can be used to create very subtle changes in pitch so the player can tune the note on the fly. I always wondered how that might transfer to guitar where you were playing chords and not just single notes. That looks like a step in the direction towards fretless chords. The frets reduce the required dexterity and finger "independence" needed.

 

[davismanLV]

Golly!! That gives "fan frets" a run for their money!!

 

[GGJaguar]

I'm not sure why, but the frets look like (sharp) reel mower blades and they make me cringe.

 

[GAD]

I think barre chords would still work so long as your fingers were between frets. Since the pattern repeats equally. I’ll photoshop something to support my theory when I’m at my desk.

 

[Stuball48]

Do the vertical lines in the background play any significant role? Are they an aiming point? I think they have importance.

 

[GAD]

Looking more closely at the pic, the dots are where the frets would be on a normal guitar because that's where the strings cross the frets. I've highlighted the fingering for an E major barre chord below which is why I think it would play mostly like a regular guitar, though it would feel weird and would be difficult to play by feel since the frets aren't where we're used to them being.



I'm curious about the source of the pic because looking closely at it, some of the frets appear to go over the strings. I don't know if that's just some sort of jpg, video capture, or resizing artifact, but it makes wonder. Maybe it's a fretless guitar and someone photoshopped the frets on as a concept?

 

[chazmo]

C'mon, that's a joke, right?

 

[fronobulax]

4 Odd Fretboard Styles and Why They Exist

Let’s get weird!

www.ultimate-guitar.com

Doesn't explain the OP pic which I am willing to believe but could be a very subtle joke but was an interesting summary, IMO.

 

[walrus]

I agree with GAD. The vertical "dots" are so you know know where you are while playing. In the OP, you can see he's doing a E chord, you can see where his fingers are pressing down on a fret in the right spot for an E chord.

Having said that, it still makes no sense to me why you would do it, and I would not buy this guitar! I have enough trouble with regular frets!!

walrus

 

[RBSinTo]

Wouldn't do much for my guitar playing, but I'll bet it gives excellent traction in the snow.
RBSinTo

 

[Guildedagain]

Ibanez bass?

 

[Uke]

Yamaha prototype for a new Guild model.

 

[SFIV1967]

I'm curious about the source of the pic

That picture goes around the internet (Twitter, blogs, FB,...) since at least 8 years, the initial source cannot be found anymore I'm afraid. No page had any source mentioned nor anything more of the neck (nut, saddle) shown. Might be a simple joke picture.

Ralf

 

[Maguchi]

How do you play barre chords?

Holy guacamole!

 

[GGJaguar]

And then there's this. Microtonal? Atonal? Made for aliens from outer space? I have no idea.

 

[RBSinTo]

And then there's this. Microtonal? Atonal? Made for aliens from outer space? I have no idea.

Hold this up to a mirror, and there is a message written in Klingon that is clearly visible, and when translated reads,
"Paul is dead".
My God! The rumours were true!
RBSinTo

 

[Wilmywood]

Looking more closely at the pic, the dots are where the frets would be on a normal guitar because that's where the strings cross the frets. I've highlighted the fingering for an E major barre chord below which is why I think it would play mostly like a regular guitar, though it would feel weird and would be difficult to play by feel since the frets aren't where we're used to them being.



I'm curious about the source of the pic because looking closely at it, some of the frets appear to go over the strings. I don't know if that's just some sort of jpg, video capture, or resizing artifact, but it makes wonder. Maybe it's a fretless guitar and someone photoshopped the frets on as a concept?

I think what you're seeing is the E string vibrating and looking translucent.

 

[fronobulax]

I think what you're seeing is the E string vibrating and looking translucent.

Also the D, B and high E if that explanation applies to the frets at the extreme edge of the pic.

I kind of want this to be real but I'm not sure I know enough about it to convince a jury of that.

 

[fronobulax]

And then there's this. Microtonal? Atonal? Made for aliens from outer space? I have no idea.

If the intent is a playable instrument then the frets do seem to use concepts from microtonal and true temperament fret systems. I can see patterns that repeat up the fretboard and the almost normal frets at what might be 3, 5, 7, 9 and 12 suggest some kind of design. & strings suggest suggest unconventionality as well.