Britannica AI Icon

fretting

music
Also known as: fret

Quick Summary

In music, "fretting" refers to the act of pressing the strings of a stringed instrument against the frets. Frets are note-position markers, often made of gut or wire, found on the fingerboard of instruments like guitars and lutes. By pressing a string against a fret, the vibrating length of the string is shortened, producing different pitches. This technique is fundamental to playing many stringed instruments, allowing musicians to produce a wide range of notes and melodies.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.