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Everything about Fingerboard

String instrument part

The fingerboard is an important component of most stringed instruments. It is a thin, long strip of material, usually wood, that is laminated to the front of the neck of an instrument. The strings run over the fingerboard, between the nut and bridge. In playing the instrument, a musician presses strings down to the fingerboard to change the vibrating length, changing the pitch. This is called stopping the strings. Depending on the instrument and the style of music, the musician may pluck, strum or bow one or more strings with the hand that is not fretting the notes. On some instruments, notes can be sounded by the fretting hand alone, such as with hammer ons, an electric guitar technique. Wikipedia →

🧭 Start here: a 6-step reading path

  1. Read the overview: FingerboardA 5-minute orientation
  2. Skim a recent paper: Assessing the Impact of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation-Based Fingerboard Training versus Conventional Fingerboard Training on Finger Flexor Endurance in Intermediate to Advanced Sports Climbers: A Randomized Controlled StudyInfluential work since 2022
  3. Pick up a classic book: Violin Fingerboard MasteryThe most-reprinted book on the subject
  4. Read the landmark paper: Fingerboard in Competitive BoulderingCited 55 times
  5. Go sideways: FretA closely related topic
  6. Go sideways: GuitarA closely related topic

📖 Definitions

Noun A flat or roughly flat strip on the neck of a stringed instrument, against which the strings are pressed to shorten the vibrating length and produce notes of higher pitches.

Noun A miniature skateboard or snowboard that is propelled by the fingers.

Noun Synonym of hangboard (“device for building finger strength”).

🗂️ The subject at a glance

  1. Frets
  2. Materials
  3. Parameters
  4. Scalloping
  5. Scoop of fretless bowed-string fingerboards
  6. Dip of guitar fretboards

🏆 Landmark papers (most cited)

🆕 Influential since 2022

📚 Books worth reading

Ranked by number of editions on Open Library, a rough measure of how lasting a book is.

🔗 Related topics