Why do some instruments not have frets?

As long as one is playing only single-note melodies, like what’s played on a violin, it’s possible with training to precisely finger a fretless instrument. So from this perspective, the reason violins don’t have frets is that violinists aren’t expected to play many chords.

Can you play a guitar without frets?

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. It was pioneered by Turkish musician Erkan Oğur, who invented the classic fretless guitar in 1976.

Do all string instruments have frets?

The short answer is no; violins do not have frets. Viols, an early form of violin had frets that were made of gut. Unfortunately, these frets were prone to stretching and loosening in warm humid weather which would cause them to shrink or break. (In simple terms they were a pain to keep aligned and in tune.)

How is the violin played without frets?

The violin does not have frets However, being able to press the string down in the right position all the time requires practice. The hand position at which the first finger plays a note two steps higher than that of the open string is called the first position.

What if violins have frets?

In practical terms, the violin can produce an enormous range of tonal subtleties that would not be possible if it was made with frets. Playing techniques like ‘portamento’ (a gentle sliding between notes), or ‘glissandi’ would not be so easily or fluently playable making the violin sound very different indeed.

Are there violins with frets?

The short answer is no; violins do not have frets. (These early violins were heavily used in the baroque period.) Viols, an early form of violin had frets that were made of gut. (It was also much easier on the fingers to play without frets!) From the 18th century and onwards, it was rare to find a violin with frets.