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Can you string a regular Guitar with just 3 strings GDG tune.??

Posted by Mark Milam on August 19, 2011 at 4:22pm in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts

Waiting for my CBG and was wondering if I can string a Ovation Applause guitar with only 3 strings and practice some with it???  What strings should I keep??  I have some med gauge acoustics on it now...and was thinking using the 4,3,2 strings and tune them to GDG..would that work??

Also, how should I space them?  Just have the High G or 1st string where it goes in the nut and skip a string and then the middle string (tuned to D) and then skip a string and then G (low) in the nut?  

Sort of new here, so don't know if anyone has done this or if it just wouldn't work, but seems like it should....Thanks for any info. 

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Replies

  • Keni Lee Burgess August 21, 2011 at 3:40pm


    Thank you Mark for your purchase.

    Well it is not anything too complicated. Very basic theory to help you undertand and map out the fingerboard.

    I believe the CD will make things clearer for you. 

    Please feel free to write if any questions arise as you work through the lessons.

    The more songs and musical ideas you learn in GDg tuning the easier it will become.

    Be patient and think of learning as an adventure searching for buried treasure. You might have to dig a lot of holes and at the time you may think they were unnecessary, but really each hole gets you closer to the prize.

    Above all enjoy your practice, Keni Lee  
    Mark Milam said:



    Keni Lee Burgess said:

    Well, it seems you got your answer, but I will add a little more.

    Using standard strings ADg and tuning GDg is just part of the full 6 string Open G tuning (DGDgbd). On my instructional video CD 4, I teach GDg tuning for 3 string, on CD 5, I teach Dgbd tuning for 4 string, and on CD 2, I teach DGDgbd tuning for 6 string. Do you see the similarities? Once you understand the relationships between the strings, it does not matter how many strings are on your instrument. You can apply this knowledge to banjo using the traditional bluegrass tuning (gDgbd) because actually it is Open G tuning too. I hope you find this information helpful. Enjoy your practice, Keni Lee   

     

    Thanks Keni,

    I did order your CD yesterday...maybe then I'll see the relationship between the strings, but trying to remember them maybe something harder..LOL....But I'm going to try anyway I did get "Bad to the Bone" down pretty good, at least my wife said, "Finally, you can play a fricking Song" LOL.  

  • Mark Milam August 21, 2011 at 12:55pm


    Keni Lee Burgess said:

    Well, it seems you got your answer, but I will add a little more.

    Using standard strings ADg and tuning GDg is just part of the full 6 string Open G tuning (DGDgbd). On my instructional video CD 4, I teach GDg tuning for 3 string, on CD 5, I teach Dgbd tuning for 4 string, and on CD 2, I teach DGDgbd tuning for 6 string. Do you see the similarities? Once you understand the relationships between the strings, it does not matter how many strings are on your instrument. You can apply this knowledge to banjo using the traditional bluegrass tuning (gDgbd) because actually it is Open G tuning too. I hope you find this information helpful. Enjoy your practice, Keni Lee   

     

    Thanks Keni,

    I did order your CD yesterday...maybe then I'll see the relationship between the strings, but trying to remember them maybe something harder..LOL....But I'm going to try anyway I did get "Bad to the Bone" down pretty good, at least my wife said, "Finally, you can play a fricking Song" LOL.  

  • Keni Lee Burgess August 21, 2011 at 8:43am

    Well, it seems you got your answer, but I will add a little more.

    Using standard strings ADg and tuning GDg is just part of the full 6 string Open G tuning (DGDgbd). On my instructional video CD 4, I teach GDg tuning for 3 string, on CD 5, I teach Dgbd tuning for 4 string, and on CD 2, I teach DGDgbd tuning for 6 string. Do you see the similarities? Once you understand the relationships between the strings, it does not matter how many strings are on your instrument. You can apply this knowledge to banjo using the traditional bluegrass tuning (gDgbd) because actually it is Open G tuning too. I hope you find this information helpful. Enjoy your practice, Keni Lee   

  • The Professor August 20, 2011 at 3:32pm
    Not difficult. Take off the 1st 2nd and 6th string, Tune it it G A G and you will be flying.
  • Mark Milam August 20, 2011 at 10:54am
    Yeah!! Dats what I'm Talkin' bout!! :D  Think I may go to the pawn shop and pick up a cheap electric just to play with it with 3 strings..
  • Dan Sleep August 20, 2011 at 6:15am

    It works for Seasick Steve.

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNoPNC3ebYQ

     

  • John Stevenson August 19, 2011 at 10:01pm
    I have my Epiphone hollow body tuned to EBEBee presently.  Kinda stupid, but lots of fun with a slide and the amp cranked up.  The small strings ee give a nice treble chorus sound. john
  • Ben August 19, 2011 at 4:40pm
    This may be an obvious answer, but it is what I did when I was experimenting with 3 strings while in the process of building my first. Do what you said but leave all 6 strings on the guitar and just play those 3. Or, if you really want only 3, take the others off and just leave those 3 where they'd normally be.
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