Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Busyhands Slim on December 22, 2012 at 8:42am

I tune mine DGBE, but obviously there's no "standard" tuning for a CBG. I think it depends on how you want to play it. Slide? Open tunings. Conventional chords? Guitar/uke tuning.

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Permalink Reply by Amerigo on December 22, 2012 at 12:25pm

Vance

With that tuning which guitar strings are you using ?

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Permalink Reply by Busyhands Slim on December 22, 2012 at 12:42pm

When I change the strings on my Gibson acoustic, I save the high four for the CBG. The scale length is 20 inches. Strings are Martin SP medium phosphor bronze: .013, .017, .026, .035. You would think they'd be too heavy for that scale length, but it's easy to play and the sound is robust.

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Permalink Reply by Sharecropper on December 22, 2012 at 2:03pm

 Hi, Amerigo .    I haven't made a four stringer yet ...but I'm planing to !   I will most likely use the standard  D,G,B&E  strings .   I'll tune it standard ......or in different open tunings used for a six string guitar .  The best of both worlds !    Your CBG wants open tuning and a slide !!!!!!!    For what it's worth , I think , the strings on it now are strings  5,4,3&2 ( A,D,G,B) from a standard set ...... and now that I think about that.....that's a neat option too !!!!  That would still allow it to be in standard tuning or open tunings .  Maybe keep your present how it is and play with it!!!!       Have Fun !!   

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Permalink Reply by Amerigo on December 23, 2012 at 4:15am

Thanks Vance and Joel for the replies . I' m having fun with it  that's for sure. Had a few folks over last night and the Cigar Box was a bigger hit than the guitar. I gotta pick up a slide though , any particular suggestions on type and length of slide . Brass , glass, stainless , stubby what do you all suggest. I love this instrument and just may have to try building one too. 

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Permalink Reply by Keni Lee Burgess on December 23, 2012 at 4:15am

One way I like to play is to use standard strings Dgbe and tune open G (Dgbd)

http://youtu.be/fN_31o3PAYw

 

http://youtu.be/HB6vm3jtRLk

 

Enjoy playing your new git-fiddle. Happy Holidays, Keni Lee

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Busyhands Slim on December 23, 2012 at 6:08am

Which is banjo tuning, of course. So banjo chord books will work, and clawhamner picking would sound awesome on a CBG.

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Permalink Reply by Amerigo on December 23, 2012 at 6:45am

I'll have to check out some of these different tunings  and just play around with it. Keni Lee you have some great youtube videos , there sure is a ton of info out there . Thanks 

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Cris Portillo Jr. on December 25, 2012 at 8:51am

Yes like Vance said the dgbd Tuning is in Banjo tuning so you can easily find chord charts that you can apply to your CBG this is the tuning that I used when I started out playing CBG on 4 strings

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Permalink Reply by Sharecropper on December 23, 2012 at 7:23am

 Keni Lee ,"The Man", Burgess .... The go to man on music theory , on this site !!  Great tunes , Keni Lee !!     @ Amerigo :  I like my brass slide it's made for a standard guitar .  A stubby slide (but big enough to cover all strings) would be better .  Glass and stainless steel work well too .   A stainless steel socket is one choice .      The most important things I want in a slide are weight and fit .      I like a heavy slide .  The ease" I " have of playing with a heavy slide compared to a light slide is night and day .       How well the slide fits my finger is really important to me .  I use my pinky .  I want the slide to come pretty close to covering the end of my finger .   The slide needs to feel like it's been sized for me and the fit snug and comfortable .     So ..... go dig around the house ...... find things that might work for a slide .....  Find what" you " like ........have fun playing with your CBG ....... Merry Christmas present indeed .........I've got to go and catch a running sentence                   farewell .

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Permalink Reply by Slowpaw Steve T on December 23, 2012 at 6:20pm

try GDGb (-:

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/group/four-string-cigar-box-guitars

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Permalink Reply by Keni Lee Burgess on December 24, 2012 at 3:37am

I play 3 string CBG mainly tuned G5 (GDg / 151) or retuned to Open D (ADf# / 513). In referencing this to 4 string CBG, 151 tuning can be extended to 1515 (GDgd) or 1513 (GDgb). 1513 is based on Open C tuning CGCgce / 151513. What is interesting to consider is that regardless of the configuration you choose to utilize, if it contains the 513 interval, an easy system of movable chords can be created. Currently, I am very fond of this approach because if you want to use a fake book of your favorite artist or band, finding the chords you need is relatively easy. A CBG does not need to be a "one trick pony". It is certainly not a limited instrument due to the fact it only has 3 or 4 strings. What I have found useful is to create a study that organizes the fingerboard and continues to reveal all the possibilities. Enjoy your practice. As usual, please feel free to write, if I can answer any questions. Happy Holidays, Keni Lee    

 http://youtu.be/xDmNWRrXbns    

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