Microtonal Guitars

Want to expand your sound beyond Western harmony and the usual 12-note choices? A microtonal guitar opens up new colours between the frets — perfect for players looking to explore fresh melodic phrasing, richer chords and tuning systems that sit outside standard equal temperament. If you’re ready to step into those in-between notes, we’ve got the right microtonal electric guitars and necks to get you started.

What is a microtonal guitar?

A microtonal guitar is a modified instrument that lets you play notes in between the normal semitone pitches used in most Western music. By adding extra microtonal frets (or using a specially designed fret layout), it gives you more note options across the neck — so you can access intervals and chord flavours that a conventional guitar simply can’t reach.

The good news is that these microtonal instruments are often built around familiar guitar dimensions. That means the overall feel can be surprisingly close to a standard six-string, just with a denser map of pitch choices under your fingers. They’re especially useful for exploring alternative harmonic ideas and ornamentation often heard in traditional Middle Eastern and Indian music, as well as modern experimental, progressive and cinematic styles.

If you'd like to find out more, check out our dedicated blog on microtonal guitars.

Popular microtonal guitar players & musicians

Microtonality has been embraced by adventurous artists across rock, pop and the avant-garde. If you want to hear what’s possible, check out music from King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Steve Vai and Jacob Collier — alongside boundary-pushing projects such as Angine De Poitrine.

Our microtonal guitar range

Microtonal guitars are still a niche corner of the market, so finding a well-made, gig-ready option can be tricky. That’s why we’re excited to offer UK-based builder PJD’s microtonal necks. They're crafted to the same high standards as their regular instruments, but designed to unlock a much wider pitch palette.

Exclusively available from Andertons Music Co. — our PJD microtonal options are an easy way to take your first step beyond the standard fingerboard without sacrificing playability. Shop the PJD Guitars range right here!