Song lyrics for Steve's new song
Hey Cigar Boxers,Just listened to Seasick Steve's new song, Internet Cowboys. Does anybody know…See More
#1 resource for Cigar Box Guitars, Free Plans, How-To, Parts & More!
Why I marked my CBG's fret positions like a banjo instead of a conventional six string guitar.
It seems pretty much standard for conventional guitars to have fret position dots at fret numbers 3,5,7,9,12,15,17,19,21. Five string bluegrass banjos are marked almost the same, but a banjo differs in that its fingerboard usually marks the 10th and 22nd fret instead of the 9th and 21st. The advantage of marking a fingerboard like a banjo instead of a guitar is that the pentatonic blues scale will fall right in line with all the dots on the root note string. Every dot will represent a pentatonic note, not the case on a conventional guitar.
With a cigar box tuned to GDG, you have two outer root note strings and a middle string tuned to a 5th. This means that the whole neck will be marked for the pentatonic blues scale if you use banjo markings instead of conventional guitar markings. Remember that the open notes are pentatonic, and you will know right where all the good soloing notes are at a glance. The only exception will be on the middle string at the 7th and 19th frets. But, not to worry, these are still strong soloing notes since they will be the 5 note of the 5 chord(the power chord side of the triad). Plus, it's easy enough to force these notes pentatonic by giving them a good half step bend.
Anyway, that is why I marked my first build like a banjo. What do you think?
Comment
-
Comment by Ron "Oily" Sprague on March 18, 2015 at 8:24am
-
Eric's always been a little bent...
-
Comment by Bruce on March 14, 2015 at 4:43am
-
The twisted headstock is cool-very artistic. It's like something Picasso would have painted. Actually, if Picasso were to paint one of your guitars he would probably make the headstock straight, since it's already bent. LOL.
-
Comment by Bad Finger (Eric) on March 14, 2015 at 4:03am
-
Yeah, that's me. I was playing that guitar and my 1931 license plate guitar. The twisted headstock is sorta my signature thing. :)
-
-
Yes, I see what you mean from the picture. That's nice. Were you in a video I saw on the Pennsylvania Cigar Box Festival? I recognize that headstock from somewhere.
-
-
It has been how I've done my guitars since the second or third one and for the same reasons.
In fact, above the 12th fret, I have only fretted the minor pentatonic notes since my fingers are big and not as precise as needed for playing in the 2nd octave of the fretboard.
The Essential Pages
Recommended Links & Resources
- CigarBoxGuitar.com - the knowledgebase of the homemade music movement.
- Cigar Box Music - How-to-Build CBGs DVDs, How to Play CBG and more!
- 3-String-Guitar.com - John "Red Dog" McNair's unique take on cigar box guitars and their history - lots of historic photos!
- The Cigar Box Guitar Manifesto - the mission statement and rallying cry for the Cigar Box Guitar Revolution.
Forum
Song lyrics for Steve's new song
Started by J. D. Woods in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts 17 minutes ago. 0 Replies 0 Likes
AI Search Query - Curious Answer
Started by Southern Ray in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by A.D.EKER 17 hours ago. 4 Replies 0 Likes
UK - Best Place to Buy Cigar Box's
Started by Rich Butters in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Crazed Fandango yesterday. 4 Replies 0 Likes
Are metal frets necessary?
Started by J. D. Woods in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by J. D. Woods on Saturday. 7 Replies 1 Like
Busking Songs...
Started by Nomad Jack in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by J. D. Woods Apr 17. 7 Replies 2 Likes
Joseph J. Rogowski about Current Based Pickup Design
Started by Moritz Voegeli in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 14. 6 Replies 2 Likes
crossover guitar.
Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Apr 10. 14 Replies 3 Likes
Flat bucker under box top. Any Success?
Started by Tom T in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 9. 9 Replies 0 Likes
Has anyone tried this? Thoughts?
Started by Southern Ray in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 4. 7 Replies 1 Like
just came accross this pickup idea on youtube.
Started by Timothy Hunter in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 27. 1 Reply 2 Likes
VIDEO: Building a CBG with limited resources.
Started by Taffy Evans in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 10. 1 Reply 3 Likes
Free PDF Download: Vintage Guitar Effects Plans - 1967 Fuzzbox and 1969 Treble Boost
Started by Cigar Box Nation in Feature Articles. Last reply by BrianQ. Mar 9. 4 Replies 3 Likes
Tune up songs
Started by Ghostbuttons in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 9. 5 Replies 1 Like
Duel output jacks
Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 8. 6 Replies 0 Likes
No Harmonics
Started by Ken I in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Brian partington Mar 8. 8 Replies 0 Likes
Camera suggestions?
Started by Southern Ray in Cool gear discussion - that's not cigar box related. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 6. 5 Replies 0 Likes
CBG site issues, continued.
Started by Taffy Evans in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 5. 4 Replies 2 Likes
Anyone used a violin-style tailpiece on a CBG?
Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Carl Floyd Mar 1. 15 Replies 0 Likes
Guitar for the grandson
Started by Joe in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by Carl Floyd Feb 29. 13 Replies 0 Likes
Building with vintage paper/pressed board cigar boxes.
Started by Chance in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 22. 12 Replies 1 Like
Blog Posts
I'll be fashionable this summer =)
Posted by Vlad on March 31, 2024 at 11:48pm 0 Comments 1 Like
Everyone can make CBG. And I did it =)
Posted by Vlad on March 6, 2024 at 2:32am 5 Comments 2 Likes
.✨. Cover Me ..♪♫•*¨*•. ~ the Delta Blues Outlaws
Posted by billy jones bluez on February 28, 2024 at 2:09pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Q&A with Arkansas-based talented blues musician Billy Jones, one of the very best authentic modern artists
Posted by billy jones bluez on February 17, 2024 at 11:00pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Big Power Bank for Small CBG =)
Posted by Vlad on February 11, 2024 at 1:06am 1 Comment 1 Like
Latest Activity
There i was Standing at the ..... BCB - A. D. Eker 2024
"A Different, but very Likeable take on a Classic Blues Song :-)"
There i was Standing at the ..... BCB - A. D. Eker 2024
"I tryed something differend whit the crossroad consept, thanks for listening ! appreciated !"
Cigar Box Guitar 106 now for sale 🙌
"Thanks everyone! Yes it is inspiring to own other cigar box guitar builders creations. I have many…"
"Nice one Korigan ! The Vinger Slascher ?"
I Can Only Imagine: 2-String Chugger License Plate Cigar Box Guitar
"Head Slingers "The Steady Crew " Right On !"
Cigar Box Guitar 106 now for sale 🙌
"crunch Rocking DAR ! nice kit ! jangling julery! Slash Dar Johnson!! now on stage !!"
CigarBoxGuitar.com Knowledgebase Articles
Events
-
Republic of Texas CBG Festival (8th Annual)
May 11, 2024 from 11am to 8pm – Speakeasy Grill
0 Comments 0 Likes
-
20th Annual Cigar Box Guitar Festival (Day 1)
May 30, 2024 from 6:30pm to 10pm – The Casual Pint of Huntsville
0 Comments 0 Likes
Music
© 2024 Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker.
Powered by
You need to be a member of Cigar Box Nation to add comments!
Join Cigar Box Nation