Hello folks, my name is Tony and I'm brand new to CBG's I have been playing 6 string for about 6 months and I'm doing fine with the basic chords. D, G, C, A7, Em enough to make some decent sounding music. I recently purchased a beautiful 4 string CBG with frets. It also has an electic pickup. My guitar is tuned D G B E. When I try to play chorded songs that sound good on the 6 string, they don't sound anything like that on the 4 string. I have tried to find 4 string chord charts and haven't had any luck. Most of the FREE lessons for CBG's are for 3 string guitars and slides. I tried using a bottle neck slide on my 4 string and it doesn't seem to work very well. Do I need to buy a 3 string CBG to learn how to play? I would like to play country songs or church songs with my CBG. Can someone lead me in the right direction on finding chords or lessons for the 4 string beginner. Did I make a mistake starting off with a 4 string CBG?
Thanks, Tony
You need to be a member of Cigar Box Nation to add comments!
I understand your position and after building a 4 string I can tell you I was not impressed with the DGBE tuning at all. I think for me the open G tuning is the best GDGB. I have just been in to the building lately so now trying to play the thing I guess just look up banjo chords and you should be fine. I may try that to see how it sounds. I am trying to do the same thing with county type church songs.
I think this was mentioned above. However I bought my son a baritone uke. I think I found a baritone uke chord book at amazon.com . The bottom 4 strings of a guitar are not going to give you the effect of the full six. But if you learn the chords that you feel are missing the most of what youre looking for in higher positions you may be able to aquire the chords that work for you, and teach yourself a lil more about travling up the neck on the 6string at the same time.
For open tunings I normally use GDGB or DGBD on my four strings
Other people have already stated this but I'll say it as well, try open tunings , right off the bat there are three good open G tunings to try (D-G-b-d, D-G-d-g and G-B-d-g) in all of these tunings when you strum the strings open you have the key of G, place a finger across the 5th fret and you have C, move the finger to the 7th fret and you have D. These open tunings are great and rings out pretty clear. Then mess around with some simple 3 cord songs (Crossroads, Sweet Home Alabama . . .) Try making things simple . . .
I do love Tenor 4 strings tunings (C-G-d-a) but you'll have to learn a whole new set of chords
I guess one big thing people miss about this ( CBG madness) is it looks at music from a whole different perspective.
Simplicity and enjoyment. Forget trying to get the same sound as anything else ...... go for what you like.
Don't worry about music theory ... remember these things originally came from people who ususally couldn't even read or write, much less discuss intervals, 5ths, 7ths, octaves, etc.
Make YOUR music ... if you like it and enjoy it, so will someone else!
Ive been strumming my boys baritone uke a lil lately. It is a bit different sounding because your missing a couple strings, but when you get used to it it simplifies. Instead of playing a G try using the F chord formation at the 3rd fret. A would be the F at the 5th fret and so on. This wont be a complete fix all but will help you in some situations when you half chords arent hitting your ear right.
@john bolton
i understand man! from the time i was 15 and started to play, my whole world revolved around chord shapes. melodies, bass lines, everything else developed from my memorized shapes of chords, and i developed a skill set completely wrapped around them.
my fascination with chords began to feel like a noose once i reached about 20 0r so.. it just felt like there was something missing.. my knowledge and skill was contained within chord shapes and i knew nothing else about the notes higher on the neck, about music theory...
going to one string actually taught me more than i ever expected..! suddenly scales made sense to me, minor and major scales suddenly were very easy to understand and produce... in any key.
... but then i've been playing guitar for 15 years now.
let me digress a moment. i spent MANY good years as a well respected singer and performer, using ONLY basic chord shapes, and a capo. it worked well for a LONG time! played lots of open mics and a bunch of my own one-man shows using the basic chords, with a little arpeggio mixed in. (i eventually moved to BARRE chords and my skills grew a WEE bit more...)
i'm still -JUST- a rhythm guitarist, and i find it easier to strum 3 strings, barred with a slide, than to finger all six strings. i still play all the same stuff, just in a different manner. i just strum and sing.. i leave the fancy playing to the lead guitarist... LOL
your journey is just beginning. take a few pictures and make a few videos, let us see how you're doing!
Wichita Sam says it right and well, but I guess the truth is that I do have a fascination with chords. And I use my CBG much like I use a 6 string 'store bought.' But I get a fun and more raw sound and the satisfaction of playing something I made. Better yet, I have a couple 'home made' songs I wrote to play and sing with my CBG.
Many if not most CBG players do the slide and barre thing, which is cool. I like to use the banjo chord shapes in open G and create a shuffle sound on the I (G) chord by alternating an open G and fretting D2. I use the IV (C) chord shape the same way adding and lifting off at G2 for the shuffle beat. The shuffle sound works great for some good songs like: Sweet Home Chicago, Rock Me Momma and others. Not all songs sound good on my CBG, but I have experimented and found about 10 that work well enough for me to use at jams.
Build, play, sing and enjoy.
Crow said:
@wichita sam
amen brother!
i spent lots of time trying to re-build the acoustic, 6 string guitar with cookie tins..
eventually i realized it really was an entirely different instrument, and so i explored different strings and tunings until i found what really worked for the instrument and my playing style
i have to say, i'm a true, full-blooded three string fretless convert. i LOVE the sound my CBG gets from that 3 string open A tuning, and i can strum my way through ANY song that comes to mind...
making your own instruments is a journey. it may take you away from the string/tuning/play style that you've grown accustomed to....
and that can be the best part of all!
(by the way, i spent some serious time playing the "first four strings of a six string guitar" arrangement, and after you get used to the different sound, it really has a charm all of it's own!!)
Wichita Sam said:
a good 4 string CBG is a very good thing.... enough for full chord sounds, but raw/open enough to not be mistaken for a "regular" guitar.... other than that, what's the fascination with "chords"? just throw an open tuning on it, barre across the neck and away you go... you can always set up open minor or 7th tunings for alternative sounds.... enjoy your CBG... let it tell you what it wants to play... if you listen to it, it will.... the best,
i spent lots of time trying to re-build the acoustic, 6 string guitar with cookie tins..
eventually i realized it really was an entirely different instrument, and so i explored different strings and tunings until i found what really worked for the instrument and my playing style
i have to say, i'm a true, full-blooded three string fretless convert. i LOVE the sound my CBG gets from that 3 string open A tuning, and i can strum my way through ANY song that comes to mind...
making your own instruments is a journey. it may take you away from the string/tuning/play style that you've grown accustomed to....
and that can be the best part of all!
(by the way, i spent some serious time playing the "first four strings of a six string guitar" arrangement, and after you get used to the different sound, it really has a charm all of it's own!!)
Wichita Sam said:
a good 4 string CBG is a very good thing.... enough for full chord sounds, but raw/open enough to not be mistaken for a "regular" guitar.... other than that, what's the fascination with "chords"? just throw an open tuning on it, barre across the neck and away you go... you can always set up open minor or 7th tunings for alternative sounds.... enjoy your CBG... let it tell you what it wants to play... if you listen to it, it will....
the best,
Replies
I understand your position and after building a 4 string I can tell you I was not impressed with the DGBE tuning at all. I think for me the open G tuning is the best GDGB. I have just been in to the building lately so now trying to play the thing I guess just look up banjo chords and you should be fine. I may try that to see how it sounds. I am trying to do the same thing with county type church songs.
this thread is over 8 years old... chances are they dont visit here anymore..
I think this was mentioned above. However I bought my son a baritone uke. I think I found a baritone uke chord book at amazon.com . The bottom 4 strings of a guitar are not going to give you the effect of the full six. But if you learn the chords that you feel are missing the most of what youre looking for in higher positions you may be able to aquire the chords that work for you, and teach yourself a lil more about travling up the neck on the 6string at the same time.
For open tunings I normally use GDGB or DGBD on my four strings
I do love Tenor 4 strings tunings (C-G-d-a) but you'll have to learn a whole new set of chords
Mark
Simplicity and enjoyment. Forget trying to get the same sound as anything else ...... go for what you like.
Don't worry about music theory ... remember these things originally came from people who ususally couldn't even read or write, much less discuss intervals, 5ths, 7ths, octaves, etc.
Make YOUR music ... if you like it and enjoy it, so will someone else!
Matt - my zen for the day
i understand man! from the time i was 15 and started to play, my whole world revolved around chord shapes. melodies, bass lines, everything else developed from my memorized shapes of chords, and i developed a skill set completely wrapped around them.
my fascination with chords began to feel like a noose once i reached about 20 0r so.. it just felt like there was something missing.. my knowledge and skill was contained within chord shapes and i knew nothing else about the notes higher on the neck, about music theory...
going to one string actually taught me more than i ever expected..! suddenly scales made sense to me, minor and major scales suddenly were very easy to understand and produce... in any key.
... but then i've been playing guitar for 15 years now.
let me digress a moment. i spent MANY good years as a well respected singer and performer, using ONLY basic chord shapes, and a capo. it worked well for a LONG time! played lots of open mics and a bunch of my own one-man shows using the basic chords, with a little arpeggio mixed in. (i eventually moved to BARRE chords and my skills grew a WEE bit more...)
i'm still -JUST- a rhythm guitarist, and i find it easier to strum 3 strings, barred with a slide, than to finger all six strings. i still play all the same stuff, just in a different manner. i just strum and sing.. i leave the fancy playing to the lead guitarist... LOL
your journey is just beginning. take a few pictures and make a few videos, let us see how you're doing!
have a great day and keep strumming!
Many if not most CBG players do the slide and barre thing, which is cool. I like to use the banjo chord shapes in open G and create a shuffle sound on the I (G) chord by alternating an open G and fretting D2. I use the IV (C) chord shape the same way adding and lifting off at G2 for the shuffle beat. The shuffle sound works great for some good songs like: Sweet Home Chicago, Rock Me Momma and others. Not all songs sound good on my CBG, but I have experimented and found about 10 that work well enough for me to use at jams.
Build, play, sing and enjoy.
Crow said: .
amen brother!
i spent lots of time trying to re-build the acoustic, 6 string guitar with cookie tins..
eventually i realized it really was an entirely different instrument, and so i explored different strings and tunings until i found what really worked for the instrument and my playing style
i have to say, i'm a true, full-blooded three string fretless convert. i LOVE the sound my CBG gets from that 3 string open A tuning, and i can strum my way through ANY song that comes to mind...
making your own instruments is a journey. it may take you away from the string/tuning/play style that you've grown accustomed to....
and that can be the best part of all!
(by the way, i spent some serious time playing the "first four strings of a six string guitar" arrangement, and after you get used to the different sound, it really has a charm all of it's own!!)
Wichita Sam said:
-
1
-
2
of 2 Next