Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Diane in Chicago on August 8, 2010 at 3:42pm

I play chords on my three stringers all the time. I have some tuned DAD, and I have a dual 3-string I tune DAE.

You can find a chord chart for DAD, GDG and CGC tunings here: http://www.cigarboxnation.com/group/threestrangthangs/forum/topics/...

and a chord chart for DAE here (three highest strings on your mandolin):

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/group/cbgtabs/forum/topics/dae-chord-...

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Permalink Reply by Barry Lampke on August 8, 2010 at 4:12pm

Think this would be a pain to strum chords on?

http://cgi.ebay.com/PUNCH-CIGAR-BOX-4-STRING-MAPLE-GUITAR-/31023907...

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Permalink Reply by Ben on August 8, 2010 at 5:21pm

It looks like a decent build at a reasonable price. You may want to watch out for the odd spacing of strings on it. I understand the thought process behind it but am skeptical as to how easy it would be to strum. Banjo players seem to make due with relatively even spaced strings, I'm not sure why things should be different (especially at the nut).

Barry Lampke said:

Think this would be a pain to strum chords on?

http://cgi.ebay.com/PUNCH-CIGAR-BOX-4-STRING-MAPLE-GUITAR-/31023907...

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Permalink Reply by Uncle John on August 9, 2010 at 5:33am

I have done mando tuning (GDAE) on CBGs and it works for simple 2 finger chords. The longer scale of a guitar neck makes for some long finger stretches making it hard to utilize your mando skills. I do better chording/picking and sliding in open G (DGBD) using some banjo chords. Good luck.

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Permalink Reply by MichaelS Country Boy Guitars on August 9, 2010 at 6:45am

I strum my 3 strings, seems to work for me.

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Permalink Reply by Keni Lee Burgess on August 9, 2010 at 7:23am

Playing and strumming a 3 string CBG can be done, but it is a little tricky. Basically due to the lack of strings. A major chord requires 3 tones (135). To make it a 7th chord, you need to add the flat 7. You can drop a note and work in partial chords. It is for this reason, 4 string instruments are more popular than 2 and three string instruments all around the world. The other problem is chord voicing and finding the necessary chords right next to each other. Please check out the Chord Chemistry 101 lectures in my blog on my page. You might find this helpful with 4 string chord inversions up and down the neck. Also, if you are interested, please check out my instructional video CD 4 (3 string CBG). I think you will find it a good exploration of 151 tuning (GDg). Enjoy.
http://shop.ebay.com/njmikeb/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&a...

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Permalink Reply by Barry Lampke on August 9, 2010 at 7:38am

Thanks, Keni. Saw one of your videos - very helpful!

Barry

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Permalink Reply by Barry Lampke on August 9, 2010 at 11:14am

Holy cow - thanks for reminding me about this! If I can do C, G, E, A, Am, Em, Dm, F Bb and B7 I am OK. I will have to test on a reg. guitar. What do you think? Perhaps DGDB, the four high strings of the guitar? Will these chords work well with this tuning?

John Bolton said:

I have done mando tuning (GDAE) on CBGs and it works for simple 2 finger chords. The longer scale of a guitar neck makes for some long finger stretches making it hard to utilize your mando skills. I do better chording/picking and sliding in open G (DGBD) using some banjo chords. Good luck.

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Permalink Reply by Barry Lampke on August 9, 2010 at 11:38am

Dang! Doing an Am with GDAE tuning on a 25" scale (my 6-string regular guitar) is painful! B7 is similarly a stretch. I can manage other chords OK. Now what to do? Can I fudge these chords? Do people make CBGs with necks on a smaller scale, larger than a mando or Uke, or is it pretty much one or the other?

Barry Lampke said:

Holy cow - thanks for reminding me about this! If I can do C, G, E, A, Am, Em, Dm, F Bb and B7 I am OK. I will have to test on a reg. guitar. What do you think? Perhaps DGDB, the four high strings of the guitar? Will these chords work well with this tuning?

John Bolton said:

I have done mando tuning (GDAE) on CBGs and it works for simple 2 finger chords. The longer scale of a guitar neck makes for some long finger stretches making it hard to utilize your mando skills. I do better chording/picking and sliding in open G (DGBD) using some banjo chords. Good luck.

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Permalink Reply by Barry Lampke on August 9, 2010 at 11:39am

I meant DGBD...

Barry Lampke said:

Holy cow - thanks for reminding me about this! If I can do C, G, E, A, Am, Em, Dm, F Bb and B7 I am OK. I will have to test on a reg. guitar. What do you think? Perhaps DGDB, the four high strings of the guitar? Will these chords work well with this tuning?

John Bolton said:

I have done mando tuning (GDAE) on CBGs and it works for simple 2 finger chords. The longer scale of a guitar neck makes for some long finger stretches making it hard to utilize your mando skills. I do better chording/picking and sliding in open G (DGBD) using some banjo chords. Good luck.

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Permalink Reply by Ben on August 9, 2010 at 12:14pm

Barry...DGBd...welcome to the banjo. Look up banjo chords. As for scale length, a relatively standard length works well for this tuning. My banjo is actually about 26." I've made plenty of different lengths though. I believe Diane in Chicago plays short scale instruments. A word of warning: if you're not great about putting frets in the right place, longer scale necks will be more forgiving to the ear. Otherwise, experiment and have fun. If you know how to transpose, you can play anything!

Barry Lampke said:

I meant DGBD...

Barry Lampke said:

Holy cow - thanks for reminding me about this! If I can do C, G, E, A, Am, Em, Dm, F Bb and B7 I am OK. I will have to test on a reg. guitar. What do you think? Perhaps DGDB, the four high strings of the guitar? Will these chords work well with this tuning?

John Bolton said:

I have done mando tuning (GDAE) on CBGs and it works for simple 2 finger chords. The longer scale of a guitar neck makes for some long finger stretches making it hard to utilize your mando skills. I do better chording/picking and sliding in open G (DGBD) using some banjo chords. Good luck.

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Permalink Reply by Barry Lampke on August 9, 2010 at 12:24pm

Looks like I meant DGBE, the top four strings of a guitar. I know basic guitar and mando chords so I want to stick with something I know (especially if I'm expected to sing too!).

Ben said:

Barry...DGBd...welcome to the banjo. Look up banjo chords. As for scale length, a relatively standard length works well for this tuning. My banjo is actually about 26." I've made plenty of different lengths though. I believe Diane in Chicago plays short scale instruments. A word of warning: if you're not great about putting frets in the right place, longer scale necks will be more forgiving to the ear. Otherwise, experiment and have fun. If you know how to transpose, you can play anything!

Barry Lampke said:

I meant DGBD...

Barry Lampke said:

Holy cow - thanks for reminding me about this! If I can do C, G, E, A, Am, Em, Dm, F Bb and B7 I am OK. I will have to test on a reg. guitar. What do you think? Perhaps DGDB, the four high strings of the guitar? Will these chords work well with this tuning?

John Bolton said:

I have done mando tuning (GDAE) on CBGs and it works for simple 2 finger chords. The longer scale of a guitar neck makes for some long finger stretches making it hard to utilize your mando skills. I do better chording/picking and sliding in open G (DGBD) using some banjo chords. Good luck.

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