Why do Windsor zither-banjos have a split second fret?
If you have seen a Windsor zither-banjo you may have noticed that the portion of the second fret which lies underneath the first string is set slightly further up the neck than is the rest of the fret. Why did Windsor decide to do this? The explanation is at the same time complicated and simple. Many people with sensitive ears experience difficulty in tuning stringed instruments and the difficulty experienced only increases with the ability to hear fine gradations between pitches. The modern system of tones used in Western music is a fascinating compromise which took centuries to evolve. This system, in which the octave is split into twelve equal semitones, enables music to be played in all twelve keys. In his book Temperament, Stuart Isacoff describes how this tuning system, known as equal temperament, gradually became accepted in spite of fierce opposition in musical, philosophical and even religious circles. In earlier times other musical scales were made use of. These were based on
