I had a few folks that expressed an interest in buying a CBG from me, but it appears they were intimidated by the 3 string versions, and felt that a 4 string version would be more familiar to them. No amount of explaining would suffice, so I built a couple of 4 stringers.

I was not sure what type of tuning would satisfy these guys. The guy a the music store suggested maybe I should tune them like a mountain dulcimer. I figured I would give it a try, but the strings he gave me are really light and I am not sure I like them.

How could I tune/string a 4 stringer that would satisfy someone who is familiar with a normal 6 string guitar?

The bottom 4 strings? The top 4 strings?

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My fave is use strings 1234. the smalest 4 strings and tune to EG#BE. open E major.

I just got in two fretboards which are set up for 25.5" scale and want to build some CBGs. I made a 3 string slide CBG with no frets and love it.  

 

I don't play regular six string guitar much so never got too good at all their chords although I can play an F but instead I spent a half year learning ukulele.  The Ukulele chords are easy for me now (Barre Chords and Jazz Bar Chords) .  A small uke is GCEA or a guitar fretted at the fifth fret.  A Baritone uke is DGBE which is just like the bottom four strings of a guitar.  The scale length on a Baritone Uke is 19 and so if I build a 25.5" scale CBG instrument, seems I could drop the pitch a bit.  Nevertheless it seems DGBE might be the way to go or moving that down in pitch a bit since the neck is so long and there are so many frets anyways.  I guess it doesn't matter but to just build the thing and then figure out the tuning later. 

 

Otherwise what other tunings make sense if you want to make all the fancy chords?

Try this website to find lots of possible tunings. Experiment til you find one you like. http://www.get-tuned.com/online_guitar_tuner.php.

I'd like to try a uke tuning converted to 4-string guitar - so DGBE but with an octave D. I think it would be a cool voicing, and really, cigar boxes don't seem resonate much below the G below middle C. Might make some sweet sounds.

Here's a great resource for working out what string gauges to use. Put in your scale length and choose strings that are close to what you plan on tuning to, then put in your changed note. Adjust gauges up/down to get them around 11-12kg tension (probably your highest string will be about 9kg tension).

http://www.mcdonaldstrings.com/stringxxiii.html

Witchita Sam already recommened D-A-d-f#, figured i'd second it. 

I've found it very easy to play slide, and pick with. I've used light acoustic and light electric strings with great results, it gives a nice heavy sound.

Check out http://www.studybass.com/tools/chord-scale-note-printer/

 

You can put in a tuning for 1 to at least 10 strings and automatically print a lot of different chords and scales. It's really helpful when getting your bearings in a different tuning. Sometimes I'll print to a file with PDFCreator, open in Inkscape and color-code it too.

I'm building a 4 string  and have never played one but I don't here much on open E  e-g#-b-e on the high strings and e-b-e-g# on the low strings. This is my best 6 string tuning for blue then G for country.  What about dobro sets? trial and error.

I just turn those knob things up top there..

If you tuned it like a mountain dulcimer you may as well have 3 strings since the high one is just doubled right?

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