tuning a 4 string - Cigar Box Nation2024-03-28T20:14:57Zhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/forum/topics/tuning-a-4-string?groupUrl=playing&commentId=2592684%3AComment%3A1430053&x=1&feed=yes&xn_auth=noI'm just building my first 4-…tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2013-02-10:2592684:Comment:14300532013-02-10T17:18:52.609ZMichael Recchionehttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/MichaelRecchione
<p>I'm just building my first 4-string now - a short-scale (470 mm scale, or about 18.5 inches), which I will mostly tune GBDg, sometimes G Bb D g. This is like taking an open D tuning and capoing at the 5th fret. I play my 6-string that way a lot, and I find it really versatile, though others might disagree.</p>
<p>I love the chord voicings you can get by using this tuning, it's great for finger-style playing, and allows you to play fast scales across all 4 strings without having to do the…</p>
<p>I'm just building my first 4-string now - a short-scale (470 mm scale, or about 18.5 inches), which I will mostly tune GBDg, sometimes G Bb D g. This is like taking an open D tuning and capoing at the 5th fret. I play my 6-string that way a lot, and I find it really versatile, though others might disagree.</p>
<p>I love the chord voicings you can get by using this tuning, it's great for finger-style playing, and allows you to play fast scales across all 4 strings without having to do the stretch that having the longer interval between the 1st and second string that you have with your root - 5th - octave tuning you use on your 3-string.</p>
<p>The drawback is that the range is limited to the same range you currently have on your 3-string, since the interval between the 1st and 4th string is still just one octave. Another approach would be to tune it like a tenor guitar or a mandolin, i.e. in 5ths, so maybe D A e b, (or some shift of that). A lot of people love this, but I find it kind of annoying except on really short scale instruments. YMMV. And there could be E B e b. The list goes on just about endlessly...</p>
<p>BTW, in your case, my tuning would correspond to E G# B e, which would fit your voice, and would be appropriate since, (I assume), you're using a longer scale length.</p>