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Nearly done with my build but need advice on tuning and strings.

Mo-ning.

Other than decorating and finishing off the bridge I'm nearly done with my build. I'm now struggling to figure out what tuning would be best for me and what strings to use for it. It's a small 18-inch scale length, and hopefully more or less acoustically silent so will be using an amp. I'm a beginner player, I love blues and in particular the traditional, olde worlde, scratchy, front porch type blues. I'd like to sing along so should perhaps string and tune to that? Problem is that I don't know what my voice is in terms of tuning. I'd say I'm at the deep end of a typical male voice. With all of the above info, what would you recommend? I know there are no rules but would appreciate some advice so that I can get all of the above encompassed in one tuning if at all possible.

Ta muchly.

Ol' Grey Bear.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jittery Jay on January 31, 2016 at 12:50am

First question I have is how many strings? Fret or slide? Some might find that irrelevant, but I personally tune differently because I'm a poor guitar player and not very versatile so I find it easier to hide my poor playing with DAd on a 3 string slide vs GAgB on a 4 string fret build.
When I started I had no idea what the tuning was and actually tried tuning to CBG before I realized it stood for cigar box guitar. Awful sound that.
Eventually went to YouTube and found a ton of videos, realized my many mistakes and in the end just picked a how to video of a song I liked that looked easy enough to me. Next song came easier, few songs down the road were different tunings so I tried those which worked out fine because I was building guitars to suit each tuning.
Point is, find a song you like first. Start there. I'm guessing everything about your build started with something you liked, so why should the song be any different? If you don't like it try something else.
Don't think I really answered your question

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on January 31, 2016 at 3:07am

Hey Jay.

So it's three strings and I'll be using slide. It's fretless because I don't have the skills to make fretted right now. I'm a beginner player so will likely go with DAD or GDG as the standard. Just noticed that there were loads to choose from and didn't know where to go with wanting to sing along. I'll just try some. I found one called Dirty E which is supposed to be really good with blues so may try that. Not sure how it will work with shorter strings though? Thanks for the advice too, Jay. Much appreciated.

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on January 31, 2016 at 3:10am

It's three strings Wayfinder. I didn't have much choice with the string length because I've adapted something to make the guitar. I really like it though. One thing I don't like is how long it takes the paint to dry between coats luls. I've knicked Dani's light gauge strings for now so they'll have to do and I don't anticipate buying any others yet so they'll be on for the foreseeable future. Would the Dirty E tuning I mentioned to Jay above work with shorter strings? I really want a bluesy sound and if it's got anything to do with the tuning rather than the playing then I'm lost. Oh and thanks for the info so far. I appreciate it.

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on January 31, 2016 at 4:04am

Cheers pal, I'll give that a try. I'd not considered stringing and tuning it to uke GCEA because the hinge I'm using for a tailpiece only has three holes. No reason I couldn't thread two strings through the centre hole as long as they sit nicely and behave themselves on the bridge though. Right? Or am I meowing up the wrong bush again? The more I think on it the more I want it to be a homemade uke.

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on January 31, 2016 at 7:24pm

Yes sir-ee, great idea to put two strings through one hole. One thing I didn't think about though is I've only got three tuning pegs luls #beginnercrazies. No room to install a fourth now I've got the thin neck cut down with just enough room for the three installed. Oh well. I might still try three tenor uke strings? I made a comment last night on page two of the high pitch issues and extreme string tension. Hoping that uke strings might solve it. What do you think? Go for the uke strings? GCE? CEA?

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on February 1, 2016 at 7:56am

The headstock is so thin and small (smallness is my fault thickness isn't) that the three pegs truly is the limit. I'll keep the FCF for now but may go with the CEA at a later date. Finally in tune and sounding reasonable so I daren't mess with it luls. I'll post images either later or more likely tomorrow. Thanks for all your help. Appreciated with a muchos muchness.

Permalink Reply by Thomas "Duck" Petry on January 31, 2016 at 5:05am

Just my thoughts which aren't worth much. I built an 18" scale 3 string slide and tuned it Gdg using the same strings that I use for Gdg on my 25 1/2" scale builds and it sounded great. Experiment, and enjoy the process.

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on January 31, 2016 at 6:00am

Experimenting costs strings and since I'm stealing these off Dani, albeit with her permission, using too many may cost me my Sunday roast dinner luls. I definitely do agree with your advice though, Thomas, and usually I'd be more brave but think I ought to watch my step this time around. I'll try the GCEA tuning now. I tried painting the handle with oil paint at 10:30 this morning and as of 4pm it still wasn't dry. Wiped the paint off and wrapped around the headstock with tape and it looks fantastic now. Time to string! :D

Permalink Reply by John Sawyer on January 31, 2016 at 5:59am

Since your scale length is so short, you'll need to use the heaviest gauge strings, otherwise the tension will be too low...

Given the scale length, I'd start GDg, if the tension is still floppy, then tune them up... If you want to hit a low E, you will probably need heavy gauge strings...

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on January 31, 2016 at 7:03am

Thanks for the advice, John. Just strung it GGB as in Seasick Steve's case mentioned by Shane Speal on his YouTube video. Sounds great unfretted but as soon as I put the slide on the sound is really dampened from the volume of the unfretted strings. I'm thinking my bridge is too high which I suspected it might be even before I strung it up. I'll change the bridge and try again. If no joy then I'll try the GDg you mention.

Permalink Reply by mtfallsmikey on February 1, 2016 at 4:45am