The 12th fret on a guitar is a special place. It is the first fret where the notes start repeating themselves, an octave higher. This makes the 12th fret a convenient reference point for guitarists, and it is often marked with two dots.
There are a few reasons why the 12th fret has two dots. First, it is a visual reminder that the notes on the 12th fret are an octave higher than the open strings. This can be helpful for guitarists who are learning to read music or who are trying to figure out a new chord.
Second, the two dots on the 12th fret can help guitarists to find their way around the fretboard. If you know where the 12th fret is, you can easily count up or down to find other notes. For example, if you are playing a note on the 5th fret, you can count up 7 frets to find the same note an octave higher on the 12th fret.
Finally, the two dots on the 12th fret can help guitarists to tune their guitars. If you know that the 12th fret harmonic of an open string is the same as the open string itself, you can use this to check the intonation of your guitar.
So, why does the 12th fret have two dots? It is a visual reminder, a navigational aid, and a tuning reference point. All of these factors make the 12th fret an important location on the guitar fretboard, and the two dots are a helpful way to identify it.
Here are some additional benefits of having two dots on the 12th fret:
- It can help guitarists to find the correct position for barre chords.
- It can help guitarists to visualize the fretboard and to learn new scales and patterns.
- It can make it easier to sight-read music.
Overall, the two dots on the 12th fret are a valuable asset for guitarists of all levels. They can help you to play better, to learn more quickly, and to have more fun with your instrument.
