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| Moderated by: Tony Provencher, Richard Hefner |
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| Tenor tuning trouble | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Wed Jan 21st, 2009 01:23 am |
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1st Post |
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redmancb Approved 
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I've recently put some tenor specific strings on my tenor to tune it to CGDA . The gauges are: 10-14-22-32. When I try to tune the C however the string can't take the tension and either brakes or is so taught it wouldnt be able to be played without braking. I've read that standard tenor string gauges are often class="ltext".036 .024 .016 .010. My guitar is a Jupiter Creek sold body electric and measures pretty standardly: length = 36 inches, nut width = 1 3/4 inch es, nut to bridge = 23 inches. Any suggestions? Last edited on Wed Jan 21st, 2009 01:23 am by redmancb |
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| Posted: Wed Jan 21st, 2009 04:06 am |
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2nd Post |
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Will Approved 
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redmancb wrote: I've recently put some tenor specific strings on my tenor to tune it to CGDA . The gauges are: 10-14-22-32. When I try to tune the C however the string can't take the tension and either brakes or is so taught it wouldnt be able to be played without braking. Remember that tenor guitar tuning spans a wider range of notes between adjacent strings than does a 6-string guitar. Is it possible that you may be tuning that 32 string to the wrong octave of C - perhaps an octave too high? That low C string should be two whole notes above the low A (5th string) of a 6-string guitar (EADGBE). Usually it's the high A string that breaks because it's tuned half an octave higher than the 6-string guitar's high E. Hope this helps.
____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ A Bunch Of Coconuts http://abunchofcoconuts.com |
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| Posted: Wed Jan 21st, 2009 03:15 pm |
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3rd Post |
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redmancb Approved
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So I took your advice (which was right haha) and the C worked out. I do now see the problem with that high A. Do you think using a guage like .012 would work better? I've been playing the tenor for almost two years in DGBE, but now I'd really like to get that true tenor sound down. Thanks ahead time.
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| Posted: Wed Jan 21st, 2009 04:15 pm |
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4th Post |
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Will Approved
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redmancb wrote: So I took your advice (which was right haha) and the C worked out. I do now see the problem with that high A. Do you think using a guage like .012 would work better? I've been playing the tenor for almost two years in DGBE, but now I'd really like to get that true tenor sound down. Thanks ahead time. I think that using a thicker string would make the problem worse for the high-A. I have another suggestion. Instead of standard tenor guitar CGDA tuning, why not try a lower tuning such as GDAE (used on octave mandolin)? I use GDAE tuning on my long-scale (25.5" scale) acoustic tenor guitar (I, too, had played it for years in DGBE tuning), and I think it sounds much better and richer than DGBE tuning, because of GDAE tuning covers a wider tonal range (and goes down nearly as low as a 6-string guitar's low E bass note). And besides, the long-scale neck of my acoustic tenor guitar made it impossible to use CGDA tuning. Normally, GDAE tuning is used for a longer necked instrument, but with the right string gauges (a bit thicker to compensate for the short 23" scale), it might work. You can use a standard medium gauge 6-string guitar set. Try tuning the low A string for the low G, the D string as is, tune the B string to A, and the E string. The advantages of low GDAE tuning: 1. You will get better bass and a richer tone than CGDA tuning. 2. You can use a banjo capo at the 5th fret to get standard CGDA tuning. 3. You won't have to worry about breaking the high string because it's tuned to E instead of the higher A. There is a handy octave mandolin chord chart that you can download and print. This chart modifies mandolin fingerings to compensate for the longer neck and longer stretches needed to play the common major, minor, and 7th chords. Download the chord chart here: http://www.folkofthewood.com/PDF/octavechordchart.pdf Good luck. Last edited on Wed Jan 21st, 2009 04:24 pm by Will ____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ A Bunch Of Coconuts http://abunchofcoconuts.com |
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| Posted: Thu Nov 12th, 2009 02:35 pm |
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5th Post |
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Will Approved
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redmancb wrote: I've recently put some tenor specific strings on my tenor to tune it to CGDA . The gauges are: 10-14-22-32. When I try to tune the C however the string can't take the tension and either brakes or is so taught it wouldnt be able to be played without braking. I recently re-tuned my 23" scale tenor banjo to CGDA, but I didn't have a set of tenor strings. I used a set of Cleartone electric guitar strings, but broke the high-A string. I had a large stock of 0.08" strings used the for the high octave G on my 12-strings, and that worked for tuning to the high A on the tenor.
____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ A Bunch Of Coconuts http://abunchofcoconuts.com |
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