Since I discovered the world of homemade guitars, I've been struggling a bit with what is the best tuning for a cigar box guitar. I've tried various open tunings, but they seem very limiting, for myself of course. I've finally gravitated to 4-strings or six strings, and use the standard guitar tuning for the top four strings. E-B-G-D for 4-strings. 3-string guitars I tune to E-B-G. Six-string guitars I keep with the standard E-B-G-D-A-E.

But I'd be interested in hearing from those who use open tunings, and why you do. 

Views: 1510

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

On the three string swamp witch I've played around with 135, 138, 148, 158. And so many more. On the four string Delta Blues I've tried so many I've forgotten most of them. : ) Currently I'm standard on 2, 3  and 4 with a drop D on the first string. Makes learning 'Brown Eye'd Girl' a breeze! 

Each tuning has yielded an amazing array of possibilities. 

Good thing about standards is that there are so many to choose from.

1 i use banjo tuning on 4 string (DGbd) top 4 strings drop the e to d. I do 3 variations from this tuning great to slide.  tune your High D  up to E your in 4 string standard like a baritone uke

2 drop the B to Bflat for minor tuning

3 (DAda) low grinding use lower strings like 2 power chords the 4 bass strings

4 (DGbb) tune the e way down to b its like the 3 strings on a six string  the B is doubled and is used for 1 string leads kinda like a dulcie drop the extra b (DGb) same very familiar to 6 stringers  

i can gig with 2 cbg's banjo tuning is more like standard 6 string tuning (EADgbe) it makes chords like a barre good for slide

these are my favorite tunings in order ive gigged with all of them you can tune up 2 frets to A with lite strings de-tune to C or B with heavy strings Go to (Cigar Box Tunings) Ice BOb

                        

RSS

The Essential Pages

New to Cigar Box Nation? How to Play Cigar Box GuitarsFree Plans & How to Build Cigar Box GuitarsCigar Box Guitar Building Basics

Site Sponsor

Recommended Links & Resources


Forum

crossover guitar.

Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Apr 10. 14 Replies

Tune up songs

Started by Ghostbuttons in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 9. 5 Replies

Duel output jacks

Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 8. 6 Replies

Latest Activity

Poorness Studios posted a video

David Bowie's Space Oddity (covered on guitar & Stylophone)

I've been meaning to do a cover of this since I got my David Bowie Stylophone last Christmas. This song is outside my vocal range and difficult to sing, but ...
7 minutes ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

There i was Standing at the ..... BCB - A. D. Eker 2024

"Thank you Keith for standing at the crossroads whit me for a while ! appriciated !"
1 hour ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
1 hour ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
1 hour ago
BrianQ. liked Gary O'slide's video
14 hours ago
David Hopkins commented on David Hopkins's photo
Thumbnail

Anti-Body Guitars 18,19 and 20

"Thanks Doug.  You know... i should have made it a lefty since I don't play either way.…"
16 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on David Hopkins's photo
Thumbnail

Anti-Body Guitars 18,19 and 20

"Very cool builds David! I favor the center one; probably because I’m a lefty, not that the…"
17 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

All You Got to do is put your Mind to it ! BCB - A .D .Eker 2024

"I like your creative take on this Roger Miller classic Andries! As for the Slingers version well…"
17 hours ago
Gary O'slide posted videos
17 hours ago
BrianQ. liked Randy S. Bretz's photo
17 hours ago
BrianQ. commented on Randy S. Bretz's photo
Thumbnail

On the Bench

"Oohh, SpectraPly! I likey Randy!!"
17 hours ago
BrianQ. liked Doug Thorsvik's video
17 hours ago

Music

© 2024   Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

\uastyle>\ud/** Scrollup **/\ud.scrollup {\ud background: url("https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/963882636?profile=original") no-repeat scroll 0 0 transparent;\ud bottom: 25px;\ud display: inline !important;\ud height: 40px;\ud opacity: 0.3 !important;\ud position: fixed;\ud right: 30px;\ud text-indent: -9999px;\ud width: 40px;\ud z-index: 999;\ud}\ud.scrollup:hover {\ud opacity:0.99!important;\ud}\ud \uascript type="text/javascript">\ud x$(document).ready(function(){\ud x$(window).scroll(function(){\ud if (x$(this).scrollTop() > 100) {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeIn();\ud } else {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeOut();\ud }\ud });\ud x$('.scrollup').click(function(){\ud x$("html, body").animate({ scrollTop: 0 }, 600);\ud return false;\ud });\ud });\ud \ua!-- End Scroll Up -->