Fingerboard
Board on the neck on which the strings are pressed to shorten them.
What it means
The fingerboard is the board on the upper side of the neck of a string instrument on which players press the strings with their fingers. Pressing shortens the vibrating part of the string, and the pitch rises. The fingerboard is usually made of hard wood such as ebony.
Musical use
On string instruments such as violin, viola, cello, and double bass, the fingerboard is smooth and fretless: players must hit the pitch by ear and finger position alone and can slide continuously. On the guitar, lute, and mandolin, by contrast, the fingerboard is fitted with frets, small metal bars that fix the note steps. The length of the string from nut to bridge is called the scale length.
The fingerboard should be distinguished from the fret, the single bar, and from the neck, the supporting part on which the fingerboard rests. It also differs from the soundboard or top, which radiates the sound.
Performance practice
Keep a calm hand position at the fingerboard: the fingertips press the string just behind the fret or at the intended spot without cramping the hand. On fretless instruments practise intonation with the help of open strings and harmonics.