Fret slotting template

Full-size, tiled PDF for slotting a fretboard by hand, plus laser SVG and CNC DXF. Straight or fanned frets, guitars to mandolins.

Scroll or pinch to zoom, drag to pan

    Every position uses the 12-tone equal temperament rule, d(n) = L − L ÷ 2n/12, measured from the nut parallel to the centreline.

    How to use the paper template

    1. Pick an instrument, or set your own scale, fret count and board widths.
    2. Download the PDF and print it at 100% / Actual size. Measure the 50 mm square before you cut anything.
    3. Trim each page on its dashed edge, lay it over the page before with the ⊕ marks matched, and tape.
    4. Stick it to the squared, thicknessed blank with spray adhesive, centreline on the blank’s centreline.
    5. Knife each line, then saw the slots against a square or a slotting miter box. Check the 12th fret sits at exactly half the scale.

    Laser and CNC

    • SVG is 1:1 in millimetres. Blue lines are fret and nut positions to score at low power; the red outline is the board shape to cut (optional).
    • Score lines mark positions. Cut the slots to depth with a fret saw or a 0.6 mm slitting cutter.
    • DXF is R12 in millimetres, one layer each for frets, nut, outline, centreline, markers and numbers.
    • Saddle positions in the table are uncompensated. Add compensation at the bridge as usual.

    Fanned frets

    • The bass scale runs along the bass outer string and the treble scale along the treble one; frets are straight lines between them, carried to the board edges.
    • The perpendicular fret is square to the centreline. The 7th to 9th is typical and keeps the hand comfortable in the middle of the neck.
    • Tick Left-handed to mirror the fan.
    –1st fret
    –12th fret
    –tightest gap
    –board length