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tuning suggestions for a 3 stringer that uses three low E strings

Posted by Jacob Rollins on October 27, 2013 at 10:01pm in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion

I have an interesting situation. my dad and built 2 more cbg's today and one he decided to put one 3 low E strings, just to try it out. Our dilema is what may be ways we can achieve a sort of open tuning? for example how would go about doing an open G tuning? 

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Replies

  • Jacob Rollins October 30, 2013 at 10:29pm

    what we have been going with currently is a point of view where we use it as a 3 string "diddley bow" if you will by tuning all the strings to the same pitch

  • Robert Phillips October 29, 2013 at 11:21am

    I'd just tune them all to E and then try tuning each string up a half or down a half step at a time. Write down the tuning combos and notes on how each sounds until you get something you like. The only way I could see making a real open tuning work without breaking the neck from extreme tension is by using a fan fret set up.

       

  • robert jones October 29, 2013 at 9:43am

    Look up "ostrich tuning" and La Monte Young's stuff from the 60's.

  • The Capo Kid October 28, 2013 at 5:10pm

    Why not try EBe or DAd as a starting point as long as you stick to 1 5 1  and don't over tune the strings and put too much tension on the neck it's all about trail and error and what sounds and feels good to you

  • The Phrygian Kid October 28, 2013 at 2:28pm
    *unless you have implemented differing scale lengths down each side of the neck (ie fanned frets) and pretty extreme differences at that, you'll probably find it impossible to spell out a triad like Oily is suggesting with a single string guage. (The inverted 5s gdg etc might or might not work, perhaps around 25" or longer you'll find that doable, then again it's a lot of tension to leave a guitar under) You'd need a scale length around 40" (and custom strings to fit) to get that kind of elasticity from steel music wire. Classical strings may reach the fifth, but new strings doesn't appear to be in your budget. I'd say your best best is unisons, tune all three to exactly the same pitch as each other. There's actually a lot of cool music to be found in such a tuning, cool drone stuff and blocky r&b double stop stuff. Have fun :)
    • Ron "Oily" Sprague > The Phrygian Kid October 28, 2013 at 2:40pm
      Kid's right, of course, but I figured you should at least try, and prove it to yourself. Wasn't sure how you'd feel about trying to play the same string 3 times, even though it could be "interesting."
  • Ron "Oily" Sprague October 28, 2013 at 10:32am
    EAE (you have to get the middle E to A, which may not be doable; too much tension)

    GDG ( this will involve putting a fair amount of tension on the two outside E strings, but you should be able to get to the Gs; detune the middle string down to D)

    FCF (tune the outside Es up one step, the middle E down two steps; the middle E might end up too floppy, though)

    You can also try to do a variant on ADF# , but starting on E: E A C# Tuning that middle E to A will be the main problem, I think, and the C# might be even harder...So try starting on D: D G B. That B is gonna be difficult, too, sooo, Drop it to C: C F A, then capo it, maybe.
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