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Permalink Reply by Keni Lee Burgess on May 18, 2009 at 8:49am

Hello,
I'm glad you are enjoying the 3 string lessons. If you are tuned 151 or GDg, you can simply add a fourth string and tune it to a 5 or d. Now you have 1515 or GDgd. Use a high e string from a medium pack of strings and tune down to d. On my Series 1 instructional video I teach 6 string Open D tuning. The guitar is tuned 151351 or DADf#ad from low to high. Here is the interesting part. You already have the same 3 bass strings 151. The first two strings 1,5 are in the reverse order of a 6 string tuned open D (5,1). The trick is to just invert the doublestops (intervals) that appear on the first two strings. Please understand , what I am teaching in my lessons, is not just songs, but a method to understanding the relationship between one string and the next. If you understand the 8 tones of the major scale, it doesn't matter what key you are in, the relationship is always the same. If you tune 1351 or Df#ad, you can see you have a little tenor guitar in Open D. After I finish the 3 string CBG lessons, I am planning a 4 string CBG series. I know this all seems a little confusing at first, but once you understand it, it is possible to figure out or arrange all kinds of ideas. Enjoy.

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Permalink Reply by blizack on May 18, 2009 at 8:56am

Thanks Keni - and sorry for misspelling your name! I appreciate the reply and will try out your advice as soon as I get home. I'm also looking forward to your 4 string series. I like your style and appreciate your time, man!

Aaron

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Permalink Reply by Mark Werner on May 18, 2009 at 11:08am

I use the AP guitar tuner (freeware) on my computer, and what I've been doing lately is just putting up "Open G" (for instance) and tuning the guitar to the top four strings.
Seems to work pretty well.

A little chord theory reading will show that once you're tuned to an open chord, you can play around with the "voicing"; that is, how the notes are arranged. They still form the same chord.

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Permalink Reply by Keni Lee Burgess on May 19, 2009 at 2:18am

I can certainly sympathsize with the fustration of learning to play guitar. I started playing slide back in the USAF in 1984. I learned from instructional tapes from Stefan Grossman and Happy Traum. They mainly taught songs. Later I attended workshops with Woody Mann in NYC and guitar camps at Columbia University with Bob Brozman. It is mainly through Bob's influence I began what I call the Backward Step. I went back to the beginning and taught myself music from the ground up. I took songs that I could play and deconstructed them to understand them in relationship to the scales. I wanted to know how these songs were arranged. Working in Open tunings simplified the fingerboard. I soon realized I could use basic theory to explore deeper. The more I explored, the more options I found. I don't think there are any short cuts, but I think when learning a song, it is also important to ask the question and find the answer to; How was this song created? Enjoy.

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Permalink Reply by spencer on May 19, 2009 at 3:39am

Keni,

go ahead and link your instructionals...I think its fair to go ahead and plug your work. Plus I could probably stand to purchase them as well...I've always just hacked around with a low-rent understanding of the diatonic scale.

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Permalink Reply by Keni Lee Burgess on May 19, 2009 at 4:04am

Thank you for your encouragement. You can find my Instructional CDs on www.ebay.com Search: Keni Lee
The Series 1 CD starts right from the beginning by exploring Vestapol or Open D tuning. Although this is geared toward a 6 string guitar, the CD contains CBG lessons and I think you will quickly understand how to apply this knowledge (basic music theory of scales) to a CBG regardless of how many strings. The Series 2 CD continues by exploring Spanish or Open G tuning. Series 3 is free on my Youtube page www.youtube.com/kenileeburgess. This Series compares the two tunings. This helps to understand how it is all relative. You can simply move your understanding around regardless of tuning. In addition, I am available to answer any of your questions as you work through the lessons. Enjoy.

spencer said:

Keni,

go ahead and link your instructionals...I think its fair to go ahead and plug your work. Plus I could probably stand to purchase them as well...I've always just hacked around with a low-rent understanding of the diatonic scale.

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Permalink Reply by Al on May 20, 2009 at 3:24am

you could always just tune it like a mandolin/ tenor banjo ie. G-D-A-E from low to high. Hope this helps.

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