Jims 4 string tuning cheat sheet

[jim]

Using the 4 skinny strings on a 25.5" scale: .030 wound, .018 unwound, .014 unwound, .011 unwound.       

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G major: D G B D

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G minor: D G A# D

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A#: D F# A D

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F major: C F A C

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D major: D F# A D

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D minor: D F A D

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B minor: D F#B D

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C# open: C# F G# C#

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E major: E G# B E

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A major: E A C# E

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[jim]

These may not be correct, but their damm fun. And I got more if any one is interested. And please share your own. These tunings are safe as far as risk of breakage using the listed scale legnth and gauges.

[Smoke Box Blues]

My new 4 string CBG is almost finished!
Normaly I tune my CBG's with open G!
But I'll try some of these tunings!

[Nathan King]

DGAD - Sort of a 4 string version of DADGAD

I reckon you could try these, too... I based 'em off banjo tunings (with the exception of the banjo's 5th string, of course)

DGCD - "G Modal" or "Sawmill"

CGCD - "Double C"

[Roosterman]

You are only cheating yourself Jim.... ;o)

[The Phrygian Kid]

hey Jim, good work.
there are a few little errors in there, but otherwise great..
i do have a little suggestion for you, I hope you wont think i'm being critical; many of the tunings you express here are in fact identical, just transposed. (example, the first and last entries, also the second and second last)
this makes your list overwhelmingly long and hides the connection between these transposed tunings..
If you really want to get proficient at them all, and streamline it all in your mind, your list might be better expressed somewhat like this:

1 Open Major Chords..
v/i/iii/v - works in a range from F - A
i/iii/v/i - works in a range from C# - E

2 Open Minor Chords..
v/i/biii/v - works in a range from G-B
i/biii/v/i - works in a range from D-?

this is actually every tuning on your list above, and then some..
most guitar players etc would only really regard this as four tunings and grab a capo if necessary.. good luck with it all.

[jim]

yupper Jef, I am aware of that. and thanks. some of the reason behind posting this is to show some risk free tunings as far as snaping strings. Also trying the different keys opens my mind to different songs in my head. ps, im a hack.

[John Wallace]

How about GDGb

[jim]

Hi John: For a GDgb tuning you'd have to use the middle 4 strings from a 6 string set.

John Wallace said:

How about GDGb

[Ice Bob]

jim thats great id love to exchange ideas on tunings here's my new fav (GGdd) low d you need a heavy string it's G2 then the other G is G3   the dd's are in unison. kinda like a 2 string on a 4 string big fat power chord thanks for sharing oh i have a discussion group no CBN about CBG tunings

[jim]

Oh nice! sounds good Bob.
Yup, I,v check out that discussion, way too much thinking for me. Heres another one to play around with,D#  G  A#  C#, i dont know whats called , but its fun.
Ice Bob said:

jim thats great id love to exchange ideas on tunings here's my new fav (GGdd) low d you need a heavy string it's G2 then the other G is G3   the dd's are in unison. kinda like a 2 string on a 4 string big fat power chord thanks for sharing oh i have a discussion group no CBN about CBG tunings

[The Phrygian Kid]

its an Eb7      xxx

 

and could be expressed as i/iii/v/b vii

jim said:

Oh nice! sounds good Bob.
Yup, I,v check out that discussion, way too much thinking for me. Heres another one to play around with,D#  G  A#  C#, i dont know whats called , but its fun.
Ice Bob said:

jim thats great id love to exchange ideas on tunings here's my new fav (GGdd) low d you need a heavy string it's G2 then the other G is G3   the dd's are in unison. kinda like a 2 string on a 4 string big fat power chord thanks for sharing oh i have a discussion group no CBN about CBG tunings