I have built two 3 string guitars so far. Gathering parts and working on my third currently. I know that these CBG's can be tuned many different ways. When building my first two I remember reading that "open G" was a good place to start so I ordered the recommended strings from C.B. Gitty and tuned them to "open G" which is....G,D,G. or so I thought.
Looking at Gitty's listing to buy more strings I see the same strings that I bought previously. They say they are for "open G" tuning but it has them listed as G,B,D or G,B,E tuning. In fact I don't even see a string set that has G,D,G listed as open G tuning.
So....what is Open G tuning? What strings are what? What is a good string set for 3 string tuning?
Tags:
GO TO CIGARBOX101.COM SEE ESSENTIAL CORDS FOR OPEN G TUNING THIS MIGHT CLEAR THINGS UP
Hey Tom, I'm sure you'll get a lot of opinions......and they're ALL right! It's whatever works for you. What works for me is string gauges .042, .032, .024 . All wound strings of course. I use electric guitar strings with a magnetic pickup and acoustic guitar strings with a piezo. My CBG's are fretless. I tune G D G .
Any tuning that allows you to strum across the three strings and play notes that are in the G-major chord are "Open G tunings". So, without listing every possibility, any tuning that gives you some selection of G's, B's, and D's. Your G-D-g tuning is very versatile one because it gives a larger range than any of the triad tunings, and also is a "power-chord", i.e. it has no third in it, so it can be either major or minor. You could stretch a point ans say the G,B,E is an open-G tuning, even though the E isn't in the G chord. It's really an open G6 tuning, if you want to be really obsessive about accuracy.
As far as a good string set for a 3-string tuning is concerned, it really depends on a lot of things, mostly scale length and what notes you want the open strings to play. Could you be a little more specific?
To simplify an answer to the "strings for GDG tuning", use the ADG strings (5, 4, 3) from a standard 6 string set. Tune the A string down to a G, and tune the other two normally (D & G).
Open G tuning refers to either a three note chord, in the key of G, ould be GDB or GBD, or DGB. As a 2 note power chord, it would be GDg.
I use .012, .016, and .024 on all my cbg. With those I either tune gdg or dad. I fret all the sticks. No slide for me.
"The E is the seventh of the chord and makes the chord a G7" Not to be a total PITA about it, but it's the 6th, not the 7th. (Where are those smileys when you need one...)
Roger on the smileys - and on the comment. F natural, the flatted 7th tone, would be the note that makes a regular "G7" chord. The 7th tone of the G major scale is F sharp but that makes a Gmaj7 chord that doesn't show up that often in songs.
But that's kind of off the subject of the original thread. To answer the OP: most guys, and most video lessons you can buy or find on YouTube, are assuming GDg and I don't have a clue why Gitty prints what they do on their string sets.
I see the use of a lowercase character to specify a pitch (GDg). Visualizing a piano keyboard, where do the uppercase and lowercase pitches fall? Is G and octave lower than g?
Yep, with GDg tuning, "g" is an octave higher than "G".
Tom, C B Gitty part # 34-010-01 Uncle Enos Blues Blasters work very well for me. They tune to G D g . They are medium weight bronze wound #44 #34 and #26.
What rotten roger said. I've used those on all my builds. Tuned GDg, they hold tune well and have a great sound.
Started by Justin Stanchfield. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 20. 9 Replies 2 Likes
Started by BrianQ.. Last reply by MadGomer Feb 27. 2 Replies 4 Likes
Started by Ian Boyd. Last reply by Ian Boyd Dec 11, 2023. 1 Reply 0 Likes
Started by Michael Myers. Last reply by Michael Myers Apr 20, 2023. 8 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Brenda. Last reply by MadGomer Dec 3, 2022. 5 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Wichita Sam. Last reply by Taffy Evans Nov 14, 2022. 21 Replies 1 Like
Started by Michael Myers. Last reply by Taffy Evans Nov 3, 2022. 4 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Robert Killen. Last reply by Paul Craig Oct 14, 2022. 23 Replies 2 Likes
Started by Larry Sobol. Last reply by Larry Sobol Oct 1, 2022. 6 Replies 2 Likes
Started by jon neet. Last reply by Taffy Evans Aug 16, 2022. 6 Replies 1 Like
Started by Doug Laffin. Last reply by Order99 Aug 11, 2022. 4 Replies 1 Like
Started by Paul Craig. Last reply by Paul Craig Jul 17, 2022. 14 Replies 1 Like
Started by Roy Smith. Last reply by the anonymous pick May 15, 2022. 2 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Al Lobe. Last reply by BrianQ. May 10, 2022. 18 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Michael Myers. Last reply by Taffy Evans May 6, 2022. 5 Replies 1 Like
Started by Michael Myers. Last reply by Michael Myers May 2, 2022. 5 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Wichita Sam. Last reply by MadGomer Feb 23, 2022. 2 Replies 4 Likes
Started by Lionhound. Last reply by MadGomer Feb 18, 2022. 8 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Paul Craig. Last reply by Paul Craig Dec 9, 2021. 18 Replies 2 Likes
Started by Ken Hope. Last reply by Christopher G Daniels Nov 29, 2021. 4 Replies 1 Like
Posted by Vlad on March 31, 2024 at 11:48pm 0 Comments 1 Like
Posted by Vlad on March 6, 2024 at 2:32am 5 Comments 2 Likes
Posted by billy jones bluez on February 28, 2024 at 2:09pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Posted by billy jones bluez on February 17, 2024 at 11:00pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Posted by Vlad on February 11, 2024 at 1:06am 1 Comment 1 Like
May 11, 2024 from 11am to 8pm – Speakeasy Grill
0 Comments 0 LikesMay 30, 2024 from 6:30pm to 10pm – The Casual Pint of Huntsville
0 Comments 0 Likes© 2024 Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker. Powered by
Cigar Box Nation is presented by C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply, your one-stop-shop for Cigar Box Guitar parts and accessories!