string size for Gg-Dd-aa-ee or GG-DD-aa-ee 26" zouki

[DENNY7P]

looking for some ideas ,i only play harmony on it ,or Gg-Dd-aa-dd

[Mandobart]

What size strings are on it now? As I've posted before, my research and experience shows that you can usually change out one of each unison course pair with an octave higher string by halving the diameter. Here's another simple solution - buy two sets of strings. Your g (the higher octave one) is an A from your spare pair. If it can handle being tuned to an A (220 Hz) on the same scale, it can surely be tuned down to a G with no problems. Your d (the higher octave one) is an E from your spare pair. Same argument as the A; if it can handle being an E on a 26" scale it can surely handle tuned down a whole step to a D.

[DENNY7P]

HORA SAYS THEY ARE D1 - 0.30 mm
D1 - 0.30
A - 0.35
A - 0.35
F - 0.50
F1 - 0.30
C - 0.90
C1 - 0.45

[DENNY7P]

What if i had sizes. 040 .040-.028 .028-.016 .016-.011 .011=

[Eddie Sheehy]

What's that in inches?

[Eddie Sheehy]

Wait - CFAD is Greek tuning... top 4-strings of a guitar... down 2 frets... I have a 27" scale Dio Dinos (flat back Irish zouk) but I use unison strings on it - .011, .016, .028, .040 - and tune it GDAD or GDAE depending on my mood...

The D'Addario J97 - Greek Zouk strings are:
.010 .010, .013 .013, .022 .010, .028 .013 - notice that the 1st and 2nd strings are used as the octaves for the 3rd and 4th strings respectively.

The Greek strings are lighter because of the length of the neck and the fact it is a light wood with no truss rod. If you have a 'robust' neck with a truss rod you could try .011 .011, .016 .016, .028 .011, .040 .016 - just buy two sets of D'Addario J81

[DENNY7P]

CFAD is what horo factory had it strung for.I'am taking it to my set up man tomorrow,and have it set up and go to GG-DD-AA-DD OR GG-DD-aa-dd i just play harmony with the zouki ,backing for bluegrass and country and folk.any recommendation and mine has truss rod, thanks

[Eddie Sheehy]

I recommended two sets of J81 and use an E as an Octave D and an A as an Octave G from the second set...

Surely you meant Gg Dd AA EE or GG DD AA EE - the small letters signify the Octave string. The top D or E course is a moot point since it is only a full-note(two frets, or semi-tones) off with the same gauge strings...

[DENNY7P]

i also heard a good tuning was GG-DD-aa-dd -small meaning octave,any more string sizes for that.I thank you for your expertise

[Eddie Sheehy]

Good luck getting an A and E (albeit tuned to D) an octave higher without busting the strings and compromising the neck...

[Irénée]

! Two interesting tunings :
- I suggest also one interesting if you want cut over other instruments (it works well also with Bouzouki)...
This one is (low 2 high) : Gg - Dd - AA - EE or gG - dD - AA - EE... depending of your need and feeling...
- Another one very interesting to slide in Blues. It is an open G, it comes from Steve James, it is very special and it is necessary to prepare and to string especially one mandolin for this particular purpose... its tuning is: gG - Dg - Bd - dd... And the gauges are : (.16 plain or .18wound and usual .38), (.26 wound and .16 or .14 if old - without truss - mandolin*), (.16 or .14* and .11), (.11 and .11)...

[Bad Monkey]

any of the commercially available Irish 'zouk sets will work for those tunings. OP didn't specify what model Hora 'zouk, but the Irish 'zouk sets will work with few minutes of set-up.

I'm currently using the GHS medium Irish zouk sets. They're plenty long and have the right amount of zing.

https://www.elderly.com/ghs-custom-i...-set-98803.htm quickest link I could find on the fly.