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3, 4 or 6 string?

Posted by Joe Losacco on March 11, 2011 at 3:42pm in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion

I'm still pretty new to the CBG's and I've built myself a 3 string which is alot of fun, fretted version. I made the neck and fretboard from scratch and fretted it myself too. Overall it sounds and plays great but now I'm wondering about building a 4 or 6 string. Like I said, I'm really new to the CBG's and don't know of the advantages of 4 string over the 3 string. The 6 string simply speaks for itself as a full guitar. I need to be educated about these so please be easy of my ignorance on the subject. Why would one choose a 4 over a 3 or vice versa?

 

Seriously, any help or advice would really be appreciated. I'm still amazed at some of the talent on this forum in the playing and builds I've seen. Thanks in advance for your assistance.

 

Below are a few links to my build.

IMG_20100825_115359.jpg

IMG_20100825_115424.jpg

IMG_20100825_115436.jpg

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Replies

  • The Phrygian Kid March 13, 2011 at 8:21pm
    a really strong option a lot of people overlook is a 5 string.  I love em! You can take a regular set of guitar strings, ditch the 3rd string, and tune 15151.  I usually go G, so its GDGdg at 600mm.   This is a really great tuning, 3 string guitar but MORE...  Ive done a few of these and i later learned its a fav tuning of Ben Harpers too
  • ChickenboneJohn March 12, 2011 at 1:51am

    I make 3, 4 and 6 strings, and keep coming back to the 3 string as my favorite, you can use G -D -G tuning, or tune it lower with the same internals and go fretless, or use G - B -D (top 3 of open G slide tuning). As Kenny says, 4 string works well as a cut-down open G tuning (cool for Keef Richards stuff) , and you can also put it in tenor banjo tuning (or the equivalent, using 5ths rather than the 4ths between strings of a regular guitar tuning).

  • Richard G Caudill March 11, 2011 at 9:26pm
    ok!    Thought i was missing something ,, I'm cool ,, tks for the answer

    Keni Lee Burgess said:

    I just use Capitol letters for the thicker wound bass strings, and lower case letters for the plain steel strings.

    Here is a video you might find informative in regards to string gauge and tuning:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLGnnF-TIbY&feature=channel_vide...

    Please feel free to write if you have any further questions.

    Enjoy.

  • Keni Lee Burgess March 11, 2011 at 5:22pm

    I just use Capitol letters for the thicker wound bass strings, and lower case letters for the plain steel strings.

    Here is a video you might find informative in regards to string gauge and tuning:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLGnnF-TIbY&feature=channel_vide...

    Please feel free to write if you have any further questions.

    Enjoy.

  • Richard G Caudill March 11, 2011 at 4:44pm
    a question about the tunings,,,   I see u say part of it in capital letter and part in lower case ,, how does that work on a tuner ??  the capitol to concert pitch   then where,or how,to get the lowercase   ??  I too, am new and need help on this
  • Josh Gayou (SmokehouseGuitars) March 11, 2011 at 4:32pm
    Three string is a bit easier to play, giving you access to the simplest of chords.  These are easy to tune to an open power chord and you can get quite a bit of versatility out of them without being overwhelmed.  Four strings introduce tonality into your playing (major and minor chords).  A benefit to a four stringer is that you can remove one of the strings if you'd like to improve your three string licks.  6 strings will be the easiest to use if you want to learn traditional songs and well known pieces from books (guitar tabs) as these are almost always written with a six string instrument in mind.
  • Keni Lee Burgess March 11, 2011 at 4:07pm

    Nice build.

    For me, the choice is based mainly on the tuning.

    3 string works really nice with a 151 tuning. I use GDg (Open G no 3rd) tuning that is easily retuned to ADf# (Open D tuning) and ADf (Open D minor). On my fretless, I like EBe.

    4 string offers a mini 6 string tuning (Open G tuning DGDgbd) reduced down to Dgbd.

    Actually these two CBGs compliment each other. The 3 string is the bottom (GDg) and the 4 string is the top (Dgbd) of a full 6 string tuning DGDgbd.

    It all comes down to how you want your CBG to Function. Then you build the Form.

    If you like to play in standard tuning, reducing down to Dgbe might be applicable.

    I hope this helps. Enjoy.  

     

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