A Cigar Box Guitar Builder's Guide to Stringing and Tuning

There is a wide variety of music played by utilizing Open Tunings: Hawaiian, Blues, Banjo, etc. Considering an Open Tuning really only requires three notes to make a chord, reducing a standard guitar or banjo down to 3 or 4 strings is not very difficult.

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Comment by Nita Hoops on March 14, 2014 at 11:06am

Most helpful--thank you! Just got my cigar box guitar and amp today --- I'm a beginner---wish me luck!!!

Comment by Keni Lee Burgess on March 30, 2013 at 1:40pm

Thank you Freddy for your feedback. Considering "Form follows Function", understanding how music works is key to designing an instrument. Being a player and not a builder myself, I am glad to offer some insight. I greatly appreciate the builder's craft. Enjoy. 

Comment by Freddy Joe Stelling on March 29, 2013 at 1:40pm

An excellent primer, Keni! Right to the heart of it - very helpful.  I'm on my very first build, and this is great insight.  As a guitar player, I caught on right away to the ideas you outlined.  It'll make my choices much easier.

Many thanks, and keep up the great work!

Comment by Keni Lee Burgess on June 6, 2012 at 12:25am

My pleasure Don. Please check out my instructional video CDs here: http://www.ebay.com/sch/njmikeb/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from...  I clearly explain basic theory, but more importantly I demonstrate it's application for figuring out songs and creating your own arrangements. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance. Enjoy your build and practice, Keni Lee  

Comment by Don Barnhill on June 5, 2012 at 2:26pm

Thank you Keni for your clear and concise tutorial. I remember my twin brother going over all this as my eyes just glazed over but as I get older the theory gets easier to understand. This helps greatly!

Comment by Keni Lee Burgess on February 12, 2012 at 11:53pm

Thank you David for your kind and encouraging words. I enjoy exploring music and discovering how to apply it to these handmade instruments. I am fortune to have the net and various sites like the Nation were I can share my interest with others. I glad to hear you are enjoying CBGs too. I wish you the best of luck with new endeavor. Please feel free to write if I can be of further any assistance. Enjoy.   

Comment by David "Gitz" O'Corley on February 12, 2012 at 5:43pm

Just want to say thanks for being here to give back to the continuing world of cgb's... It has always been important to me to keep our history alive and this is a exciting way to do that... I don't play yet but my son does and we hope to turn building cgb's into a family business

Comment by Keni Lee Burgess on September 29, 2011 at 9:45am
Hello Alain. Well, I am not a computer expert, but I would assume there must be programs to take videos off of youtube. Google for information? Do you have my instructional video CDs? In these lessons, I not only teach songs, but also teach the same methods and techniques I use to figure out songs and create my own arrangements. They are very reasonably priced. Please feel free to write if I can be of any further assistance. Enjoy your practice, Keni Lee
Comment by ALAIN STEINBERG on September 28, 2011 at 7:50pm

thanks kenni

make things a lot simpler for me

how can i download your video to keep it on my computer ?

thanks again   alain

Comment by Keni Lee Burgess on June 12, 2011 at 1:54am
Thank you again Norman. Of course, borrow what ever you need. It's funny, I started out just playing guitar...then busking on the NYC subway platforms...then I learned how to make videos for youtube...then I started teaching and  making instructional video CDs...selling on ebay...playing and vending at festivals. It is amazing where all this has lead. Always glad to make another CBN friend. Enjoy. 

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