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| Moderated by: Richard Hefner |
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| New Member..question about string gauges - Other Instruments - Other Instruments - ezFolk Forums | |||||||||||||||
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rdcalab Approved
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Hello all, I've been lurking for a bit here. Started out on (and still play) drums, then guitar, bass, uke.......you get the point. Anyhow, I am getting into building now. My latest is a four string 23 3/4" scale cigar box.. something? I have tried to tune it Gcea with xtra light acoustic strings...SNAP. I am now trying aquila bari uke strings & don't really like the sound or string tension. Anyone have a suggestion on string type. I'd like to keep Gcea tuning as I am comfy with it. Thanks in advance.
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banjo brad Super Moderator 
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Have you tried banjo strings? Probably for a tenor or plectrum banjo - I think their scale length is close to 23". Also, you might have to think about tuning an octave lower than what you do on the uke.
____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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Will Approved 
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Tenor banjo strings are gauged for CGDA tuning, and a 23" scale, so they will work, BUT, you will need 2 sets of tenor bano strings. The reason you'll need 2 sets is because you want to use GCEA tuning. The low C in the tenor banjo set is one octave too low for you to use, and you won't need it. The GCEA tuning will need to fit into the range between the tenor banjo's G, D, and A strings. Since this only has 3 out of the 4 strings, you will need to use a second D string. Here's how you can tune these 4 strings to GCEA: Lowest position: Use the G tenor banjo string (it will be a low-G, not the ukulele re-entrant high-G). After tuning it to G, fret the string behind the 5th fret and pluck it to get the target C note which will be the next string. 2nd lowest position: Use the D tenor banjo string, but tune it up only to C. After tuning it to C, fret this string behind the FOURTH (not 5th) fret, and pluck it. This will give you the target E note for the next string. 3rd position: Use the D tenor banjo string from the second set, but tune it higher to E. If this string breaks because it stretched too much, use the A tenor banjo string from the second set, but tune it only up to E. After tuning it to E, fret the string behind the 5th fret and pluck it to get the A note for the next string. 4th position: Use the A tenor banjo string. Last edited on Wed Aug 20th, 2008 04:26 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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rdcalab Approved
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Thanks guys! I'll let you know what happens.
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rdcalab Approved
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Well, I tried Will's method for GCEA, it worked well but the tension felt a little weird in my hands. So, I tuned it to CGDA and it came alive! I guess I will have to learn the new tuning after all. Thanks for the help guys!!
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| ezFolk Forums > Other Instruments > Other Instruments > New Member..question about string gauges | |
