Scale length

Howdy folks.Im new to CBN.I have 3 grandkids that love playing around with my cigar box guitars. The problem is that the necks are way too long.So I'm thinking maybe a 17" scale ukulele neck.One of my granddaughters has a ukulele and does fine with this neck length.Id would like to tune it to open G but I'm not sure if that will create too much string tension on such a short neck.Any thoughts?

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Replies

  • What Form said is brilliant... keep in ind that for a shorter scale length, you might need heavier strings to achieve the same tension.

    For kids, I would consider nylon strings, too..
    • Yes Nylon strings make sense for little people.Thanks John

  • Take a guitar. Put a capo on it where the kids find it easy to reach between the frets.. That's their particular scale length. 

    If you build something for them using that length... Use normal strings, tune the instrument to the notes that you find when you capo your instrument at that length. Teach them songs to play as you would ignoring the capo and just pretend its a nut.

    I kinda read the question wrong but the answer is in there.

    Try to keep string tension the same, the pitch of the note rises as it would to the note that would be played if the nut was a fret. 

    Does this make sense?

    • Thanks Form it makes sense.The kids already have a uke and do well with this length neck.Plus I got a piece of wood just the right size.

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