pdxuke
Well-known member
REVISED: I now understand the standard notation Dirk is talking about, so I'm going to post that next to my twisted language. Nothing like re-inventing the wheel. Dirk will correct me if I'm wrong
You all know I've gone a little Barry Tone (my new best friend) crazy, but I've been having a heck of a good time trying different strings and tunings, and thought I'd issue a report.
First, some notation talk. I know Dirk will yell at me, but I can't get my head around the official notation on strings--my head hurts. So much for my degree in music.
So, this is what I'll use:
DGBE-- REVISED: d g b e' standard Barry tuning, the two wound low strings everybody is used to. This is a linear tuning; start low on 4th string, notes rise to the 1st string.
dGBE REVISED: d' g b e' would be a uke tuning, with the d being high like in standard uke tuning. Reentrant.
CUATRO tuning has the 4th and 1st strings low; a different kind of reentrant, where it's linear until the first string, which drops an octave from where it would be in a normal linear tuning; I'll notate it like this:
Cuatro in C would be GCEA (It would be easier, I hear Dirk saying, if you just learned the D#$mn proper notation! I will, I will...) REVISED: OK, I have, I have: g c' e' a
My Ukes, Strings and Tunings:
Martin Style 51:
Tuned d' g b e' using Southcoast HMU-NW: Heavy Medium Gauge Ukulele Set -- no wound strings
Favilla
Cuatro in C: g c' e' a using Southcoast LMC-NW: Light Medium Gauge Cuatro Set - no wound
Regal Spruce Top
Cuatro In D: a d' f#' b using Southcoast LC-NW: Light Gauge Cuatro Set - no wound strings
Silvertone (made by Harmony)
Linear tuning in C : g c' e' a'
KALA KA-B
d' g b e' using 2 sets of D'Addario Classical Guitar Strings (Normal Tension), discarding the wound strings and using the 1,2, 3 string from one set, and repurposing the 1st (e) string in the second set to use as string 4 and tuned to d. http://www.amazon.com/DAddario-EJ45...-fkmr0&keywords=d'addario+guitar+strings Thanks be to Lambchop for this idea.
LANIKAI
Out of the Box with d g b e' and Aquilla strings. I'll put on Martin 630s.
Observations
1. I'm in love with Cuatro tuning in C. It is probably my favorite of the bunch. The Favilla sings as a powerful, but chirpy rhythm instrument. I may very well string my Martin this way too. Absolutely fantastic way to tune Mr. Tone. I'm a believer.
2. My second favorte tuning is d' g b e' The Southcoast strings are wonderful. But I also really, really like the D'Addario two set mash up. I like the classical guitar feel of it, with the uke sound. Nice.
3. Cuatro in D and Linear C are a tie. I like them both.
4. d g b e' traditional Barry Tone tuning--meh. I have yet to take to it. I'll keep one uke tuned this way just to try and let it grow on me, and to help me find strings.
So there it is. I'd like to try Bb tuning as well. I'll enter this in the string Data Base, and I promise to record sound samples this weekend.
This journey has been fun.
Thanks to Dirk at Southcoast for opening up Mr Barry Tone's world view, and to Lambchop for his D'Addario idea, and to all Barry lovers who have encouraged me with advice and moral support along the way.
You all know I've gone a little Barry Tone (my new best friend) crazy, but I've been having a heck of a good time trying different strings and tunings, and thought I'd issue a report.
First, some notation talk. I know Dirk will yell at me, but I can't get my head around the official notation on strings--my head hurts. So much for my degree in music.
So, this is what I'll use:
DGBE-- REVISED: d g b e' standard Barry tuning, the two wound low strings everybody is used to. This is a linear tuning; start low on 4th string, notes rise to the 1st string.
dGBE REVISED: d' g b e' would be a uke tuning, with the d being high like in standard uke tuning. Reentrant.
CUATRO tuning has the 4th and 1st strings low; a different kind of reentrant, where it's linear until the first string, which drops an octave from where it would be in a normal linear tuning; I'll notate it like this:
Cuatro in C would be GCEA (It would be easier, I hear Dirk saying, if you just learned the D#$mn proper notation! I will, I will...) REVISED: OK, I have, I have: g c' e' a
My Ukes, Strings and Tunings:
Martin Style 51:
Tuned d' g b e' using Southcoast HMU-NW: Heavy Medium Gauge Ukulele Set -- no wound strings
Favilla
Cuatro in C: g c' e' a using Southcoast LMC-NW: Light Medium Gauge Cuatro Set - no wound
Regal Spruce Top
Cuatro In D: a d' f#' b using Southcoast LC-NW: Light Gauge Cuatro Set - no wound strings
Silvertone (made by Harmony)
Linear tuning in C : g c' e' a'
KALA KA-B
d' g b e' using 2 sets of D'Addario Classical Guitar Strings (Normal Tension), discarding the wound strings and using the 1,2, 3 string from one set, and repurposing the 1st (e) string in the second set to use as string 4 and tuned to d. http://www.amazon.com/DAddario-EJ45...-fkmr0&keywords=d'addario+guitar+strings Thanks be to Lambchop for this idea.
LANIKAI
Out of the Box with d g b e' and Aquilla strings. I'll put on Martin 630s.
Observations
1. I'm in love with Cuatro tuning in C. It is probably my favorite of the bunch. The Favilla sings as a powerful, but chirpy rhythm instrument. I may very well string my Martin this way too. Absolutely fantastic way to tune Mr. Tone. I'm a believer.
2. My second favorte tuning is d' g b e' The Southcoast strings are wonderful. But I also really, really like the D'Addario two set mash up. I like the classical guitar feel of it, with the uke sound. Nice.
3. Cuatro in D and Linear C are a tie. I like them both.
4. d g b e' traditional Barry Tone tuning--meh. I have yet to take to it. I'll keep one uke tuned this way just to try and let it grow on me, and to help me find strings.
So there it is. I'd like to try Bb tuning as well. I'll enter this in the string Data Base, and I promise to record sound samples this weekend.
This journey has been fun.
Thanks to Dirk at Southcoast for opening up Mr Barry Tone's world view, and to Lambchop for his D'Addario idea, and to all Barry lovers who have encouraged me with advice and moral support along the way.
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