Random
Feb-08-2010, 12:46pm
Let me preface this a bit.
Way back when I was a child I played the Cello for a few years, I was never all that great, but I got just enough of an understanding to forget most of it by now. I've been playing guitar for quite a while, and I'd become interested in various different tunings. One that struck me was called "New Standard Tuning" which, like the Mandolin family, was mainly tuned in fifths. I rather enjoyed playing with it, but there was so little material and support that I didn't see myself having an easy time continuing. I later ran across some various videos of mandocello music, and I was amazed.
Long story short, I want to tune a Guitar like a mandocello, and I'd like some input. Any wisdom you can share, or input you may have would be greatly appreciated, especially if I made a mistake.
My thought is to have a string a fifth higher and a fifth lower bringing my tuning to E4, A3, D3, G2, C2, F1. In order to play properly, at a 25.5" scale length, I need the following unit weights for each string to keep the same tension. (I've also included the D'addario string ID numbers that I plan to use)
E4 - 0.0000221492 lb/in - PL010 (Standard High E String)
A3 - 0.0000472685 lb/in - PL015
D3 - 0.000110941 lb/in - NW026
G2 - 0.000284624 lb/in - NW039
C2 - 0.000677188 lb/in - NW060
F1 - 0.00136423 lb/in - XLB085**Because there aren't many Guitar strings thick enough to hit the low F, I went with a bass string. Since I was looking for Unit Weight based on my own calculations, rather than using a chart of some sort, it will create the intended sound on a guitar body.
Because the strings are thicker than the standard set, I will have file the nut a bit. I may even need to either take a drill to my tuning pegs, or get a few bass pegs.
The low F is only one note short of the lowest note on a standard 4 string bass guitar, a bass amplifier would be required for consistent volume across the range of the instrument.
As far as education goes I am considering ordering the Chord Genius book on mandocello (http://www.northernmusician.com/), but I would like a method book to accompany it. Any recommendations, and/or opinions on the Chord Genius book, would be greatly appreciated.
Way back when I was a child I played the Cello for a few years, I was never all that great, but I got just enough of an understanding to forget most of it by now. I've been playing guitar for quite a while, and I'd become interested in various different tunings. One that struck me was called "New Standard Tuning" which, like the Mandolin family, was mainly tuned in fifths. I rather enjoyed playing with it, but there was so little material and support that I didn't see myself having an easy time continuing. I later ran across some various videos of mandocello music, and I was amazed.
Long story short, I want to tune a Guitar like a mandocello, and I'd like some input. Any wisdom you can share, or input you may have would be greatly appreciated, especially if I made a mistake.
My thought is to have a string a fifth higher and a fifth lower bringing my tuning to E4, A3, D3, G2, C2, F1. In order to play properly, at a 25.5" scale length, I need the following unit weights for each string to keep the same tension. (I've also included the D'addario string ID numbers that I plan to use)
E4 - 0.0000221492 lb/in - PL010 (Standard High E String)
A3 - 0.0000472685 lb/in - PL015
D3 - 0.000110941 lb/in - NW026
G2 - 0.000284624 lb/in - NW039
C2 - 0.000677188 lb/in - NW060
F1 - 0.00136423 lb/in - XLB085**Because there aren't many Guitar strings thick enough to hit the low F, I went with a bass string. Since I was looking for Unit Weight based on my own calculations, rather than using a chart of some sort, it will create the intended sound on a guitar body.
Because the strings are thicker than the standard set, I will have file the nut a bit. I may even need to either take a drill to my tuning pegs, or get a few bass pegs.
The low F is only one note short of the lowest note on a standard 4 string bass guitar, a bass amplifier would be required for consistent volume across the range of the instrument.
As far as education goes I am considering ordering the Chord Genius book on mandocello (http://www.northernmusician.com/), but I would like a method book to accompany it. Any recommendations, and/or opinions on the Chord Genius book, would be greatly appreciated.