Tuning a Tenor guitar like a Tenor Uke

[merlin666]

What does chord strumming in fifths sound like? I had heard it was a bit thin and better to stay DGBE (or GCEA) if that was your style but i am thinking about switching to fifths even though i dont play melodies.

The Fifths tuning of tenor banjos and guitars was initially intended for strumming in jazz bands. It is much richer and fuller than uke tuning because it includes the low C in addition to the linear G to A range.

[Down Up Dick]

I’m having problems finding CGDA tenor banjo/guitar music books in fifths without scads of chords. I have lots of Celtic music books in GDAE and even an Italian folk music one. I even have some pretty good Classical music ones too, mostly in CGDA.

What I’d like now is some good American/British folk music ones without a bunch of chords. I can read and play with regular staff music, but it doesn’t have the tabs for chords. My old brain just has a lotta trouble rememberin’ stuff now days, so it’s difficult to learn new things.. Anyhow, I like tabs for (a few) chords.

I’ve been changin’ my CGDA instruments to XGBD or E. It fits better with my banjos and mandolin and tenor guitars. I still have a coupla ukes and my Cello banjo in CGDA though. I noodle on the ukes and play classical on the CB.

It’s always somethin’ ain’t it? I guess that’s what makes music so interesting. I think I'll take up the marimba or celesta next.

[merlin666]

The chords are only needed for accompaniment and can be ignored if you focus on melody and fingerstyle. A tab is usually just an interpretation of the music. As you are able to read and play from music notation you don't need a tab. Just get any music score you like and play it. There is a lot of mandolin music out in your genre but you would need to transpose that down by a fifth. Or of course just use Mandolin tabs.

[Down Up Dick]

The chords are only needed for accompaniment and can be ignored if you focus on melody and fingerstyle. A tab is usually just an interpretation of the music. As you are able to read and play from music notation you don't need a tab. Just get any music score you like and play it. There is a lot of mandolin music out in your genre but you would need to transpose that down by a fifth. Or of course just use Mandolin tabs.

Fingerstyle sounds better with accompaniment, but some books have two or three chords per measure.

I’m an old brass man — no chords unless one plays with someone else. I also play flute and a little sax. However, my lip gotta little over-the-hill, so I switched to strings—no hand-arthritis yet.

Well, the only answer is to jus’ keep chuggin’ along.

[Down Up Dick]

Though I can read music, I find it much easier to read chords in the tabs. If I’m just pickin’ tunes, I use dots.

I do play mando banjo and also Irish banjo, and I really think I prefer GDAE to CGDA. However, Irish banjo music doesn’t use many chords.

I’ve had a runnin’ battle with chords for a long time. My keyboard whipped me, so now I’m a right (or left) hand pianist.

[prd]

I’m having a lot of fun with my tenor guitar strung up in a baritone ukulele tuning.
I have it tuned dGBE re-entrant. It’s a bit of a stretch for some of the chords but
the high D string gives a nice chimey uke vibe to some of those guitar songs that
You don’t want to transpose

[Jupu]

I’m having a lot of fun with my tenor guitar strung up in a baritone ukulele tuning.
I have it tuned dGBE re-entrant. It’s a bit of a stretch for some of the chords but
the high D string gives a nice chimey uke vibe to some of those guitar songs that
You don’t want to transpose

What kind is your guitar? Are there any issues with intonation, nut or pickups, it being reentrant?

[prd]

I have a 1950’s Regal. It has a 22 3/4 scale length. Using the Ry Cooder pages I strung it up for a kind of light action
E=013
B = 016
G = 022 (wound)
d = 013
No issues with nut or intonation you could bump up to a medium gauge if experiencing back bow

[LarryS]

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