Palmfrets

A New Way to Play Guitar

Invented by Berklee Trained musician, Ben Ranson, palmfrets give guitarists the ability to change notes using the picking hand through a new technique called palmfretting.

Close-up of an electric bass guitar with a sunburst finish, strings, Palmfboard, and black pickguard resting on grass.

Bearded musician (Ben Ranson) with long hair playing electric guitar and singing into a microphone onstage

Palmfretting

This is how palmfretting works: The heel of the palm of the picking hand depresses a string against a palmfret. This changes the note of the string to a higher note without using the fretting hand. The fretting hand remains free to move around the neck and play any other note. The fingers of the picking hand can then be used to pluck the new combination of notes.

Close-up of a person playing a white electric guitar on a wooden floor

Unifret

Designed to accommodate acoustic guitars and single strings on electrics, the unifret has a single palmfret for one string, adding one note. Unifrets can be installed individually, under the lower four strings, or in combination with a palmboard. Each unifret raises the note one semitone when palmfretted.

Close-up of guitar strings, bridge, Unifrets, and pickups on an orange electric guitar

Close-up of unifrets under the strings of an acoustic guitar

Palmboard

A palmboard is a block with two saddles and two series of palmfrets for two strings. The palmboard allows players to perform complete scales and melodies using only the picking hand. Ranson invented the palmboard for electric instruments and then the unifret for acoustic instruments.