Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Yankee Dog on November 6, 2013 at 1:13am

Have you tuned open D (DAd) on a three string? If so, just add the next smaller string onto whatever you used in the past. Tune that string to f#.

Otherwise, what is the lenght of your scale?

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Permalink Reply by Scott aka Farmer Ted on November 6, 2013 at 4:21am

If you're fretting the 4 string, an alternate "D" tuning is ADF#B, which is one version of ukulele tuning. Difference is with a longer scale length, as with a guitar (24-25.5 inch), it will sound like a guitar, and not a uke.

Use the 5432 strings from a standard set of guitar strings (ADGB) and drop the tuning on the G to an F#.

Lots of chord charts to be found free online for the client to learn from too.

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Permalink Reply by gary herget on November 6, 2013 at 4:26am

Scale length is 26".  This is the scale I used on the dulcimers I built and it was easier to just transfer this to CBGs than to work up a new pattern, so I took the easy way.

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Permalink Reply by Bad Finger (Eric) on November 6, 2013 at 4:30am

I haven't had much luck working with DAdf#, but I haven't given up on it.

Closer to standard guitar open tuning is DF#Ad.  If you tune to Dm by flatting the F# to F then it is a really dark sound that I like a lot.  You can still do the boogie thing, play turnarounds and whatnot with out the 3rd scale note getting in the way on the high string.

There are many, many possibilities.  I suggest maybe doing the guitar with Dadf# which a lot of people use and play and supplying an extra pack of strings with some other ideas on tuning the customer may wish to try.

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Permalink Reply by gary herget on November 7, 2013 at 11:49am

Thanks, everyone for the info. I'll get it together with info to pass on to the customer.

Appreciate all the help.

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Permalink Reply by Ice Bob on November 7, 2013 at 12:50pm

theres also (DAda) tuning i use a 6th E tuned down to D 5th A tuned A 4th G tuned down D 3rd B tuned up to A its a low tuning but its close to (DAd) on a 3 string i find it useful and spooky  heres a vid of me in (DAda) tuning   

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/cigar-box-guitar-i-just-wanta

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Permalink Reply by Rand Moore on November 9, 2013 at 9:33am

Hi Gary,

The open "D" tuning used on most 4-string guitars (D-F#-A-D) is based on the open "D" tuning of 6-string guitars (D-A-D-F#-A-D), so you can use strings 1-4 of a standard set of strings for a guitar. In my experience, coming from a 3-string diatonic stick dulcimer background, and having now built several 4-string chromatic instruments, D-F#-A-D tuning has proven to be a good alternative to the more traditional A-D-A-D tuning that I began with on 4-stringers. Stick dulcimer players often play the melody up and down string 1 (the "melody string") while just strumming the other strings (the "drone strings") without fretting them. On a 4-stringer, you can play your old tunes (melodies) on string 1 and with the additional string, have three strings for the drone strings, producing a more complex sound. The D-F#-A-D tuning provides a different drone sound which I like. And I believe, that by having one of the drone string tuned to F#, I should be able to find more chord possibilities than just having A-D-A-D tuning. You can locate chord charts for open D tuning on the six string guitars on the Internet, and just ignore the 2 missing strings to come up with chord charts for D-F#-A-D tuning. In fact I bet someone on CBN has already gone that work. [Anyone have that URL?]  As of yet, I haven't made the transition to chordal music, but hope to do so sooner than later. My latest 4-stringer uses gold fret wire for the familiar "natural" notes and silver fret wire for the "accidentals", so I can more easily learn to navigate the fretboard in my transition from 3-string diatonic instruments to 4 string chromatic instruments. I believe learning D-F#-A-D will go a long way in helping me make this transition. Here's what I'm starting to practice with for chords:

-Rand.

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Permalink Reply by gary herget on November 9, 2013 at 1:36pm

Thanks Rand, Lots of great info, the chord chart are great as well. A lot of help.

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