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Permalink Reply by Engblom on December 6, 2022 at 9:39pm

I can no longer edit the first post but of course I meant CEC as an example of 1-3-1 tuning. Another example would be DF#D.

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Permalink Reply by BrianQ. on December 6, 2022 at 9:46pm

Actually it’s 1-5-8 because the high string is an octave higher, but CGC is still a 1-5-8 tuning like GDG?
 example: 1/C 2/D 3/E 4/F 5/G 6/A 7/B 8/C 

Maybe a major tuning like GBD or DF#A would work for what you’re describing? You can use both GBE strings as well as ADG strings for a good acoustic sound? 

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Permalink Reply by Engblom on December 7, 2022 at 5:26am

My singing range is from about G2 to A3. After some experimentation on a full 6 strings guitar I have concluded that CGC is better than any 1-3-8 tuning (for me) and that the middle G string is perfect as it is at my lower limit. This means I can use the two higher strings for melody and the lowest one for chord root.

I think I will tune my guitar to C2-G3-C4.

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Permalink Reply by Timothy Hunter on December 8, 2022 at 1:44am

http://chordgen.rattree.co.uk/?instrument=mandolin&tuning=D,G,B...

This is a link to Theo's chord generator. i set it up with CGC . this is a fun site and you can set it up for any tuning and number of strings. i think 6 may be the upper limit. also there is the option to pick left or right handed.

EDIT: it seeme to revert to DGB tuning for some reason, in the top left box just delete the d,g,b and replace with c,g,c ans press enter. it will generate chord patterns ... just cant remember how i got it to do 3 strings.... 

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Permalink Reply by Engblom on December 8, 2022 at 2:02am

Quite funny, I had this site up and testing while you mentioned it here! I happened to stumble upon it myself. Here is a chart I generated for C,G,C tuning: chords.pdf.

Some chords will be mostly impossible to form. Sometimes I added two alternatives: one slightly easier and one with the chord root on the lowest string.

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Permalink Reply by Uncle John on December 8, 2022 at 2:08am

I like DGB a lot for playing melody.  It makes an open G, finger chorded  two fingered C and and D chords and a one fingered Em.  Just like 3 strings off a six string in standard tuning, so if you play that way, DGB will be quick and natural, good for melody picking and versatile - even works for slide.

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Permalink Reply by Engblom on December 8, 2022 at 2:35am

This sounds interesting, especially as it got the middle G string, which would fit my voice well if I alter between singing and melody picking.

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Permalink Reply by BrianQ. on December 8, 2022 at 2:26pm

Those chord shapes & can be used for any 1-5-8 tuning, gitty did some charts back years ago when the cigarboxguitar.com site was still in swing, he did them for all the chords just like the one you posted above?

https://secureservercdn.net/198.71.233.156/73d.ecb.myftpupload.com/...

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Permalink Reply by Engblom on December 14, 2022 at 3:28am

The more I learn, the more my previous choices seem to be wrong. I have a normal 6 strings guitar and I have been "emulating" a CBG by leaving out some strings. While I was sure I was going to use CGC tuning, and having 3 strings, I now lean towards adding a fourth string and tuning it to CEGC. The way I play this tuning seems to make most sense.

Now I have an additional question: why does 1-5-8-3 seems to be more popular than 1-3-5-8? Is there something I miss out when I think that 1-3-5-8 would be good?

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Permalink Reply by BrianQ. on December 14, 2022 at 7:24am

That’s the higher side of a low C tuning, exactly the same as the 4 string major tuning? The reason why we tune them in open chords is pretty elementary? Ease of play? One or two finger chords are easier to play than conventional three or four fingered chords? The more you play in open tunings, the more you will understand, build your guitar & give it some time? 

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