Nut to bridge, to scale
Fret 12 (blue) sits at exactly half the scale length.
Fret positions (in)
| Fret | From nut | From previous | To bridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1.908 | 1.908 | 32.092 |
| 2 | 3.709 | 1.801 | 30.291 |
| 3 | 5.410 | 1.700 | 28.590 |
| 4 | 7.014 | 1.605 | 26.986 |
| 5 | 8.529 | 1.515 | 25.471 |
| 6 | 9.958 | 1.430 | 24.042 |
| 7 | 11.308 | 1.349 | 22.692 |
| 8 | 12.581 | 1.274 | 21.419 |
| 9 | 13.783 | 1.202 | 20.217 |
| 10 | 14.918 | 1.135 | 19.082 |
| 11 | 15.989 | 1.071 | 18.011 |
| 12 | 17.000 | 1.011 | 17.000 |
| 13 | 17.954 | 0.954 | 16.046 |
| 14 | 18.855 | 0.901 | 15.145 |
| 15 | 19.705 | 0.850 | 14.295 |
| 16 | 20.507 | 0.802 | 13.493 |
| 17 | 21.264 | 0.757 | 12.736 |
| 18 | 21.979 | 0.715 | 12.021 |
| 19 | 22.654 | 0.675 | 11.346 |
| 20 | 23.291 | 0.637 | 10.709 |
| 21 | 23.892 | 0.601 | 10.108 |
| 22 | 24.459 | 0.567 | 9.541 |
| 23 | 24.995 | 0.535 | 9.005 |
| 24 | 25.500 | 0.505 | 8.500 |
Distances are measured from the front edge of the nut to the centre of each fret. Saddle compensation is set at the bridge and does not move the frets.
About the Bass Fret Calculator
Guitar Tool Hub's bass fret calculator works out where every fret goes for any bass scale length. Pick a 30″, 32″, 34″, 35″, 36″ scale or enter your own, in inches or millimetres, choose 20 to 24 frets, and get each fret's distance from the nut, the gap from the previous fret and the distance to the bridge, drawn to scale. For multiscale basses, set a longer bass side, a shorter treble side and the fret that sits square to the neck, and it lays out the fanned frets. The positions come from the equal-temperament formula, with fret 12 at exactly half the scale, and copy out as CSV.
- 015 scale presets (30″ to 36″) or a custom length
- 02Inches or millimetres
- 0320, 21, 22 or 24 frets
- 04Distance from the nut, from the previous fret and to the bridge
- 05Multiscale (fanned fret) layouts with a chosen perpendicular fret
- 06Neck drawn to scale
- 07Copy the table as CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
Each fret shortens the vibrating string by the same ratio, the twelfth root of 2. The distance from the nut to fret n is the scale length minus the scale length divided by 2 to the power n/12. Fret 12 always lands at exactly half the scale length, and the frets get closer together as you go up the neck.
34 inches (863.6 mm) is the standard long scale, used on the Fender Precision and Jazz Bass and most 4-strings. 30 inches is short scale, 32 inches medium scale, and 35 inches extra-long scale, common on 5 and 6-string basses because it tightens the low B. 36 inches and longer are super-long scales.
At 17 inches (431.8 mm) from the nut, exactly half of 34 inches. The 1st fret is 1.908 inches (48.47 mm) from the nut, and the 24th fret is 25.5 inches (647.7 mm) from the nut, three quarters of the scale length.
Measure from the front edge of the nut to the centre of the 12th fret and double it. Measuring to the bridge saddles gives a slightly longer figure, because the saddles are set back to compensate for intonation.
A multiscale bass has a longer scale on the low string than on the high string, so the frets fan out at an angle. The longer bass side keeps the low B tight and clear, and the shorter treble side keeps the high strings easy to play. One fret, often around the 7th to 9th, sits square to the neck. Tick Multiscale, set both scale lengths and the perpendicular fret, and the calculator lays out every fret on both edges.
Yes. The fret spacing formula is the same for any fretted instrument, so choose Custom length and enter the scale: 25.5 inches for a Fender-style guitar, 24.75 inches for a Gibson-style one, or anything from 20 to 40 inches. Multiscale mode works the same way for fanned-fret guitars.
No, and they should not. Fret positions come straight from the scale length. Compensation for string stiffness and the stretch of pressing a string down is set at the bridge, by moving each saddle slightly back, and does not move the frets.
Yes. The bass fret calculator is free, runs in your browser and needs no account. Copy the fret table as CSV to use it in a spreadsheet or CAD program.