What Are Guitar Inlays?

Guitar inlays are a variety of decorative elements that can be found on the exterior of both acoustic and electric guitars. Some inlays serve a functional purpose such as fret markers and are typically found on the fretboard, while others are decorative in nature and can be located anywhere on a guitar’s body. Inlays are also commonly found on the headstock of an acoustic guitar, and can sometimes be custom-placed to match specific styles or brands.

Inlays on the Fretboard

Inlays on the fretboard are commonly found on electric and acoustic guitars to help beginners navigate the instrument, as well as to add an aesthetic touch to the instrument. They can be in the form of dots, lightning bolts, letters or numbers, and can even be illuminated with LEDs or optical fiber.

Dot inlays are an important part of the playing experience because they make it easier to identify notes on the fretboard and determine what string to play on next. They are found on most acoustic guitars and are generally located on the 12th, 13th and 15th frets.

Position Markers

Inlaid position markers are a popular addition to the guitar that helps players find their way around the fretboard by placing them in precise positions along the fingerboard. They are usually circular in shape and can be made from a variety of materials, such as plastic or wood.

Position markers can be in the form of dots, letters or numbers and are typically placed on the 12th, 13th and 15th positions on the fingerboard. They can also be inlaid into the upper edge of the fingerboard or neck.

Many manufacturers use a different shape for their fret markers to create a brand identity that sets them apart from their competitors. Some companies, like Gibson and Fender, use isosceles trapezoids while others use smaller dots to create a unique design that sets their guitars apart from the rest.

A dot inlay on the 12th fret might be the most important of all because it represents the entire chromatic scale, or twelve notes on the fingerboard. This can be especially helpful for beginners because it allows them to understand that they are only a few frets away from the next note in the sequence.

Other inlays on the fingerboard include a wide range of colored dot patterns, as well as shapes such as squares and rectangles that represent notes and chords. These are often found on acoustic and electric guitars, although they are increasingly more common on electric guitars in modern designs.

Another very popular type of inlay on the fingerboard is a “tree of life” design. This is a popular inlay scheme that was used in many Ibanez models from the 60’s Lawsuit Era and was a big hit with the shred guitar world of the 80’s.

This is a fairly common inlay on the fingerboard, but it can be difficult to see if you are not looking for it. This is why many luthiers recommend that you practice on a flat piece of scrap wood before applying an inlay on your guitar. This will ensure that the inlay is a good fit for your guitar before you go through all the trouble of adding it to your instrument.