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Two String cbg

Posted by Roger Morin on June 17, 2010 at 10:27pm in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts

Ok you want to build a new 2 string box guitar. Why? And what 2 strings would you use and why. Also how would you tune them.

Ok I have family in the Philippines and I'm going to try to get them interested in building their own guitars. 1,2,3,4 strings.

Thank you Roger

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Replies

  • Crow August 24, 2010 at 10:33am
    you can use the A string tuned normally and the D string tuned up to an E or a G string tuned down to an E.

    you may also want to try a "drop D" arrangement:
    low E string tuned down to D
    A string tuned normally.
    gives a deep grungy sound.

    keith peterson said:
    God that is awesome! So the A on top and the E on the bottom? What strings also just the 3 4 from a regular set? I am restoring a early 70s Contessa and would love to try this, I really like the sound you have on your U Tube vids. Nice job and thanks for passing to us beginner builders. Keith

    /body>
  • keith peterson August 24, 2010 at 1:46am
    God that is awesome! So the A on top and the E on the bottom? What strings also just the 3 4 from a regular set? I am restoring a early 70s Contessa and would love to try this, I really like the sound you have on your U Tube vids. Nice job and thanks for passing to us beginner builders. Keith

    /body>
  • Wichita Sam June 20, 2010 at 8:19pm
    I've played some 2 string... very open sounding.... generally tune to the power chord.... *root/fifth.... Like it but not enough to play it muc h....
  • Diane in Chicago June 19, 2010 at 5:44pm
    I'm making one of these right now (with a soup can) and I'm coming at this from the melody string. The thinnest one will be C and the thicker one will be a G. So you can play melodies on the thin one, and the lower one can drone along, and be used for lower melody notes in a pinch. Mine will be diatonically fretted, like a dulcimer. I'll probably have some pix next week!
  • Mark Werner June 19, 2010 at 5:23pm
    I'm building a two-string right now... It's going to be a fretless model, and I'm using the "heavy" strings from a standard set. (since I have a lot of those left over...)
    Hoping for a sort of "singing" tone, like a fretless bass.
    I was planing to tune the strings a fifth apart, just as Crow says. (that way, I can easily play octaves as well.)
  • Crow June 18, 2010 at 10:21am
    i've been playing two string guitar for a long time, it led me to three string actually.

    i've used an AE tuning, making an open A power chord. it makes the rest of the chords easy to find, if one knows just a little about music.

    proof:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZvbe6qa4cM

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a9aXsApMj8

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

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCSMvc83SDw

    ...but now i find that i like playing three string slide better... so that's what i do.

    but i've shown that two string can be quite charming and rewarding!
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