Bob Wurster of Berkeley Strings Instruments has created a great tutorial on using "High G Major" tuning for 3-string cigar box guitar.
Strings to use on guitar: DGB strings from a normal pack of guitar strings.
Tuning: DGB (this is the same as a G major chord).
As Wurster shows in the video, this tuning enables you to get some Appalachian old timey sounds and also a convincing Rolling Stones sound using the "Keef Chord Secret:"
Wurster also goes on to show you how to re-tune the guitar into an open D power chord for some fun ZZ Top boogie.
Replies
Fantastic Bob...maybe I can play?
Nice work buddy...happy to have someone teach a few chords..and now I want to make a 3 string instrument!!LOL I so enjoy making them, but would rather hear someone good play them!:) cheers from Canada.
Love it! Anytime great sound can be made easier to achieve, I'm for it. Thanks Bob!
Great lesson. What guage strings are you using?
Funny you should post "Play like Keef", I'm soon to build a left hand version of his Macawber 5 string Tele tuned to open G, only it will only have 5 strings, not a cut 6th.
this is great, thanks for posting, I never tried the tuning you are using but it sounds good. Just wondering what guage your strings are??
Shhhhhhh, don't tell anyone......... this is standard tuning...... and there's no secret about the chords.......those are standard too. : )
other supper secret chords you could play....
.....5.............
..........6........
..................7
.........................8
....................7
.........5
.........5
........5
....................7
.........5
....................7
..............6
OK, so don't tell anyone. : )
Thank you Bob. This is great, especially for a beginner like me.
for you theory fans...
Open tuning DGB is the second inversion of the G major chord GBD which is still G major
Playing the high string 1 fret higher and the low string 2 frets higher, EGC is the first inversion of the C major chord CEG which is still C major. How about that, going G major up to C major without moving.
And you can play minor chords by playing both the high and low strings 1 fret up from the middle string.
Yes, sir. I like DGB. Loved your old timey stuff and I am surprised to hear it sound so good on Stones. You play great, but much of that good sound is the amp and settings. Good stuff.