Fretless guitar
| String instrument | |
|---|---|
| Classification | String instrument |
| Hornbostel–Sachs classification | 321.322 (Composite chordophone) |
| Playing range | |
|
(a standard tuned guitar) | |
| Related instruments | |
| |
A fretless guitar is a guitar with a fingerboard without frets, typically a standard instrument that has had the frets removed, though some custom-built and commercial fretless guitars are occasionally made. The classic fretless guitar was first pioneered in 1976 by Turkish musician Erkan Oğur. Fretless bass guitars are readily available, with most major guitar manufacturers producing fretless models.
On the fretless guitar, the performer's fingers press the string directly against the fingerboard, as with a violin, resulting in a vibrating string that extends from the bridge (where the strings are attached) to the fingertip instead of to a fret.