Sanagi
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After playing mandola for a while, I got interested in New Standard Tuning, which is a similar idea on guitar. From lowest to highest, the strings are tuned CGDAEG. The downside is the top and bottom strings are kind of ridiculous. The low C is floppy and the pitch varies depending on how hard you squeeze the string. The high G is scarily tight, and it's already a compromise since a B would never work.
After a bit of tinkering, I came up with a different compromise. I moved the CGDAE strings each down a slot, and added another C an octave up. So it looks like this:
C(high - a D string tuned down a step)
C(low - the low E tuned way down)
G (the A string tuned down a step)
D (normal D string)
A (the B string down a step)
E (normal E string)
The idea being that the doubled C string helps to clarify the muddiness of the low string. That variable pitch of the low C is still an issue, though. I'm hoping to find a different string gauge that might reduce this issue. I was worried that the nut wouldn't accommodate rearranging the strings like this, but it worked. It's a really fun tuning to play with, and I think a beginner would find it easier than normal guitar tuning. Major chords in particular are easy and sound amazingly fat. Playing blues chords is a blast, too.
I'm surprised five-string CGDAE guitar isn't already a thing, because it's really fun to play.
Anyone else have some fun alternate tunings?
After a bit of tinkering, I came up with a different compromise. I moved the CGDAE strings each down a slot, and added another C an octave up. So it looks like this:
C(high - a D string tuned down a step)
C(low - the low E tuned way down)
G (the A string tuned down a step)
D (normal D string)
A (the B string down a step)
E (normal E string)
The idea being that the doubled C string helps to clarify the muddiness of the low string. That variable pitch of the low C is still an issue, though. I'm hoping to find a different string gauge that might reduce this issue. I was worried that the nut wouldn't accommodate rearranging the strings like this, but it worked. It's a really fun tuning to play with, and I think a beginner would find it easier than normal guitar tuning. Major chords in particular are easy and sound amazingly fat. Playing blues chords is a blast, too.
I'm surprised five-string CGDAE guitar isn't already a thing, because it's really fun to play.
Anyone else have some fun alternate tunings?