How to tune 4 string CBGs?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mark Werner on June 1, 2009 at 1:34am

For slide playing, an open tuning is normal. "G" and "A" are pretty common. For someone who was going to play with fingered notes and chords, there are a lot of choices. Tuning to the "top 4" of a regular guitar is easy; a lot of multi-instrumentalists do this to make things easier.
One could also experiment with the tunings used for some of the longer-scale 4-string instruments like the Irish Bouzuki or the Tenor Mandola; even the tenor guitar.

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Permalink Reply by Ben on June 1, 2009 at 8:19am

I think the answer to this is "YES." Build them for four strings, when the person orders it have them specify if they want top 4, bottom 4, (middle 4?). Just string it up like that for them. Then they'll have their "Custom Iggy."

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Permalink Reply by Doc Oakroot on June 1, 2009 at 1:47pm

The 4 string I just built uses the top 4 from a guitar tuned CEGc.

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Permalink Reply by Tim Norman on June 2, 2009 at 2:22pm

Tune it as you would a tenor guitar CDGA.

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Permalink Reply by Doc Oakroot on June 2, 2009 at 3:47pm

CDGA? Yikes - that's a strange tenor :) How about CGDA?

Tim Norman said:

Tune it as you would a tenor guitar CDGA.

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Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on June 2, 2009 at 3:50pm

Right now, mine is CGCE using the top 4 strings. Works well. I like this tuning. I even have a tab using it (check out CBG Tabs)

-Wes

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Permalink Reply by Keni Lee Burgess on June 2, 2009 at 7:07pm

You know I just had a thought. I play mainly in Open tunings. If I'm playing my 6 string guitar, I will tune from low to high, DGDgbd to get into Open G. If I want to reduce this down to 4 string CBG, I will tune Dgbd. (the four highest strings)I still have a lot of the tuning. Why not approach it the same way with standard tuning. If you use the four lower strings EADg, it is just like a bass guitar but not as low. Then tune another 4 string CBG like the 4 higher strings. Dgbe Together they make one guitar. They can be easily played by anyone with knowledge of playing a guitar in standard tuning. Because they are strung and tuned differently, each person is forced to play differently, but one can be the bass/rhythm and the other person can be the lead. You can sell them a matched pair. What do you think?

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Permalink Reply by Dave Alexander on June 4, 2009 at 9:17pm

DGBE is the tuning on my baritone ukulele, which is a pretty close cousin to the guitar. gCEA is the standard tuning for a ukulele. (soprano size) Does your CBG have frets?

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Permalink Reply by BT Cohosh on June 5, 2009 at 1:19pm

Caveat: I'm utterly ignorant when it comes to theory, etc... I'm making this up as I go. That said....

I just finished a four-string reso, which I initially tuned GDgb, which sounded funny to me. I just coundln't figure out what to do with that "B". So, just for a lark, I tuned it GDgd, and suddenly everything made sense. Now, I know that's kinda lame (I don't even have a full chord, technically, right?), but for some reason runs across the neck sound better.

I don't know if that would help convince timid buyers, but there's my fifteen cents worth.

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Permalink Reply by Brian Lemin on June 6, 2009 at 1:16am

I see the "A7" referred to as the "Magic Jazz tuning".
I could be quite interested in playing Jazz on the CBG...... can anyone comment on this tuning or point me to some A7 jazz audio/video/tabs please?

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Permalink Reply by Old Lowe on June 6, 2009 at 1:42am

DGBD

For pickers is a good easy one

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Permalink Reply by Doc Oakroot on June 6, 2009 at 9:37pm

I'm not sure why Shane calls A7 the magic jazz tuning - I would think you would want Amaj7 for a jazz tuning. Probably depends on what period of jazz you're listening to, lol.

I've played "Linus and Lucy" (the Charlie Brown theme) on a 3 string tuned DAd (AEa would work too). It's actually very easy. No reason you can't play other jazz tunes - in any tuning you like.

Brian Lemin said:

I see the "A7" referred to as the "Magic Jazz tuning".
I could be quite interested in playing Jazz on the CBG...... can anyone comment on this tuning or point me to some A7 jazz audio/video/tabs please?

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