I built the this 3-string license plate guitar with a 27" scale because that's what my son wanted. Neither one of us can read music or play guitar but we love making noise with CBG's! My problem is that he wanted the 27" scale to be played as a Baritone. I purchased D'Addario Baritone strings (see pic) but not sure which 3 strings out of the 6-string pack I should I use and what to tune them to. I searched through the forum but unless I missed it I didn't see an answer to my questions.
Can someone educate me please?
Replies
To get that deep tone, I'd go with the BEA strings. You could try tuning that B down to a G, the E down to a D, and the A up to a G. Otherwise, you can save yourself the expense of a Baritone set next time, if you wanna use the middle three ADF#, by purchasing a standard set of 13s (defined by the high E string at .013" diameter), or by ordering individual string diameters online from places like www.juststrings.com
standard sets can let you down for overall length once you get to 27/28 inc scales,if the head stock is a little long,or the tail a bit long,you can run in to issues,so measure up and save money/spare strings
um, I think you meant tuning to pitch on a shorter scale means less tension
its like drop-D tuning a 6 string loosing the low E string down to D so that the E note is at the 2nd fret, closer to the bridge in the same way a shorter scale puts that note closer to the bridge...
;-)
I really like that you went for the baritone scale, one of the groups I play with uses a 6 string baritone guitar. It sounds amazing, and has a neat trick up its sleeve...capo at the 5th fret and its the same scale and tuning as a regular guitar, without the capo it's like playing a 7 string.
Take full advantage of the baritone choice and go with B:6 E:5 A:4 , you built a 10 guage shotgun so you might as well use buckshot and not birdshot.
Tune to G"DG - you are 2" shorter in scale and 2 full tones below design spec for the strings, so they will be a little soft to an experienced player, but it will be easier on your fretting fingers and good for learning to caress the strings with your strumming hand instead of raking them.
AND you will still be able to play along with most of the how-to-play lessons
I used a set of standard bass strings on a 25.5" scale (1/2 scale) bass I found at a yard sale (needed full rewiring as well as strings) and in standard tuning for a bass on this ultra-short scale it works quite well and is a joy to play.
Since it's meant to be a baritone, I'd be leaning toward using the lowest 3 strings and tune AEA to get started.
Kick it around a bit, try alternative strings and tunings. You can even try skipping strings and using 135 or 246 strings. I believe whatever you put on it will create whatever it was meant to become.
Having an unusual scale length you could look at getting strings for a 7 or 8 sring guitar and messing about with the heavier strings tuned a scale lower than usual.
It's your build so make it your sound.
What I mean by 135 is 1st 3rd & 5th string