@0:10 Strings @0:43 F# B D# ( open B) @2:10 E B E ( E power chord) @3:42 G B E ( bottom three strings of standard guitar tuning) @6:06 G B D ( open G) @7:18 E B F# ( tuned in 5ths)
I used a 6th bonus tuning, Gb, Bb, Eb (Top 3 Strings of a Guitar down a half step if you wanna help with Flat keys) just before I updated it into a 6 String so I can make even more tunings. Of course with a 6 String CBG there are 6 string versions of the first 4 tunings already with Standard Strings (7s/Ultra Lights), & for 5ths Tuning (C2, G2, D3, A3, E4, B4) tuning you need Octave4Plus 5ths Tuning Strings (50, 44, 26, 11, 8, 6). I dropped all the tunings down a half step because I'm having trouble singing the high notes, so now Open B is Open Bb (Bb, F, Bb, F, Bb, D), E Power is Eb Power (Eb, Eb, Eb, Eb, Bb, Eb), E Standard is Eb Standard (Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Bb, Eb), Open G is Open Gb (Db, Gb, Db, Gb, Bb, Db), & 5ths Tuning is now a half step lower (Cb, Gb, Db, Ab, Eb, Bb). I prefer using Transposed versions of those Tunings a half step lower because it's easier on my Voice.
@@-jank-willsonFAD would basically be GBE but a step lower so that C becomes Bb, D becomes C, etc. For my 6 string CBG Conversion Guitar, I use Magma GAT-D D Standard Tuning strings so I could play in the key of Bb w/ C Chord Shapes.
Love love the snippets of theory along with the basics. Wouldn't have thought of the EBe tuning, but it looks easy to grok. Had to smile when you hit the fifths tuning; sounded immediately like my tenor guitars.
FAD is good too. minor open D. You can get a minor song without having to do any minor chords, all you do is put finger across all 3 strings at a fret.
I don't know if Del reads the comments so I'll just tell the rest of the world,,,, MangoHead loves Puckett CBG video. Always interesting, informative, educational and presented in a really easy going natural fashion. Plus he seems like a nice guy, which I'm sure he is. I am learning so much from his video's and love his CBG's, If I didn't live in Malaysia I'd buy a couple of his guitars but the shipping cost would make them the most expensive CBG's in the world (worth every penny I'm sure).... Thank you Del, sharing your years of knowlage and experience is a nobal thing to do and opens new possiblities for anyone who wants to learn. This is the great thing about UA-cam and the internet it brings us infinite information and pleasure...... Oh gotta go, I just heard the Earth is Flat and Elvis is alive and well, working as a janitor at Graceland. Regards MangoHead...
I'm converting my 4 string Cigar Box Guitar into a 6 string Cigar Box Guitar, more specifically a 6 string Cigar Box Guitar in B Flat, it's tuned a step below EADGBE (so DGCFAD) w/ Magma GAT-D Strings.
Great video! Love the various tunings...Since I prefer frettless, I like the 1 5 8 tuning...lots of fun sliding with 3 strings...especially with a little distortion. I have noticed lots of lead players use 3 strings, so you are on the money...the secret of playing well is using the whole neck...know your chord inversions and be able to pick out the melody in each spot.
I went with a 7th Bonus Tuning. That 7th Tuning is D F# B which is the top 3 Strings of a Guitar down a Fourth (if you think Baritone Guitar) because I'm having alot of problems singing the High notes.
Your videos are great, no stupid rhetoric, down to the point and you know what you are doing. How do Igo about getting a quote for a CBG idea Ihave in mind?
Hi Del. I started out with the 026, 017 and 013 but found that they were too stiff on my 26 1/2" VSL guitar. So I ditched the 026, moved the others down and added an 011. Tunes up fine and I don't end up cutting my fingers to shreds. Mostly I stick to EBe and GBe. Many thanks.
If I’m going to play blues or some AC/DC ..I like E.B.e ...most every thing else my preference is G.D.g ...that’s what makes cigar box so versatile ...open tuning to your liking ....Thanks for another great upload 😎🎼👍
How about Gb, Bb, Eb (Top 3 Strings of a Guitar down a Half Step) as the 6th Bonus Tuning? It's great for transposing down a Half Step if you can't sing high enough.
If you only had the diatonic frets on that instrument, it would be a (cigar box) dulcimer/strumstick. Or you could say that the instrument is a chromatic strumstick. Because it has the lighter gauge strings. CBG's typically have the 3 or 4 heaviest string gauges of a 6-string guitar, whilst dulcimers have the thinnest 3 strings of a regular guitar string set. GCG, CGC, DAA, DAD, DAC, and FAD are common tunings of a strumstick dulcimer, so those tunings should also work for this instrument in the video as well.
Too bad to know about all those tuning possibilities. Now I have to build a few more CBG‘s to have every different tuning on one of them 😅🤪 Thanks, Del 😀👍🏻 Btw, how can anyone dislike this video? Must be pure envy.
When I play a regular guitar I tend to play five string open G. I know a lot of people like to play CBG with the three low strings from that tuning (GDG), but I prefer to take the two low strings and then raise up the third string to a B. Like the five string tuning but missing out the middle string of the five. Still great sounding with slide, but I find it more versatile and it allows you to get that Keith Richards sound. Fret a barre wherever you like, hit the strings, then hammer on your ring finger two frets above your barre on the middle string and your middle finger one fret above the barre. Before you know it you have honky tonk women or start me up. Or if the Dandy Warhols are more your thing then you could go for bohemian like you.
@@-jank-willson yes I've been playing five string open G for a long time. I started because it's all but impossible to play some Stones stuff in standard tuning (along with some other songs) but over the years I've adapteda lot of other stuff to that tuning too. And then there's the guitbass and bassitar stuff as well, but that's a whole other story.
Why not try a 6th Bonus Tuning? G-Flat, B-Flat, E-Flat (Top 3 Strings of Eb Standard Tuning) you could play in Flat Keys more easily. Now if we go down another half step to F A D (Top 3 Strings of D Standard Tuning) we've got a 7th Bonus tuning so you can play in the Key of Bb Major with C Major Chord Shapes, etc as we keep using lower tunings.
Hi Dell, I don't know how to play guitar and I wonder if there is a method to learn to play CB guitars, what would be the first chords to learn? It would be nice if you can make a video about it. Kind regards from Schwarzach Vorarlberg Austria
Very interesting tuning ideas, thanks for taking the time to record this! Do you have any thoughts on tuning to E - A - E ? It's a similar sound to the regular power chord tuning (E - B - E) and you can switch very quickly between (for example) an A power chord (E - A - E) and the chord a fifth above it, an E power chord (E - B - E).
@@chrisw5742 I was going to use the dad tuning because my cigar box says father on it (and it works) I also play in drop d a lot and having it there all the time sounds great
Dell how can i get more out of my frett boards.? I have a ton of maple. Birds eye and plain. Great action and play ablity. Seems like there is more to it than i know!
Never thought to use gbd I already know banjo chords so thats great! I tune my 4string cbg's dgbd so that makes total sense! As always THANK YOU DEL!!!
GBD is instantly recognizable to dobro players . GBD is the Open G Triad ( 1-3-5 ) . It can get muddy with heavy distortion , but is very rich and full when played mostly clean .
3:42 Of course that tuning (Open Em) is the same tuning used on the Loog 3 String Acoustic & Electric Guitars (Mini, and Pro) because this makes the transition from these to a Standard 6 String Guitar (such as the all new Loog Pro VI) easier. Fun fact 4 Strings is a good update from a 3 String, then a 5 String, a Standard 6 String, etc because it broadens your range, mind, & repertoire. Of course to fill the gaps between the 4 & 6 String Cigar Box Guitars a 5 String Cigar Box plectrum guitar should be added:ua-cam.com/video/YtiVLOkGQLU/v-deo.html Tuning for a 5 String Plectrum Banjo/Guitar is F, C, G, B, D. If you raise the two lowest strings on the Plectrum Guitar up a step, then you're in 5 String Open G (G, D, G, B, D) & now you're playing just like Keith Richards on a 5 String Plectrum Guitar.
For me since I've updated to a 6 String Cigar Box Guitar, I took the 6 String Versions of those tunings (5ths Tuning required Octave4+ 5ths Tuning Strings in the lightest recommended gauges possible) & dropped them down a half step because the High notes easier on my Voice.
I just started watching your videos today, you are very good at what you teach. On the first video that I viewed, I asked a question as to how you determine string gauge for tunings. I am concerned about breakage if I put on the wrong string for the key. After watching this video, I figured it would be a better question for others in this video, since this tutorial covers alternate tunings. I own dulcimers, and the Seagull Merlins, and I'm not sure what strings to buy. Is there a chart for this?
What about dae for mandolin players? I use dgbd on my 4 string cbg's cause I'm a banjo player. I will definitely try gbd on my 3 string! Thank You Del!!!!!
that's what i use :-) Keep in mind, on equal tempered fretboard you can tune any string to any note and it will work. that's the beauty on Equal temperament. On a Just Intonation fretboard your definitely "stuck" with the 151 interval for your open strings. make sense??
Del, TERRIFIC video. Could you please make one highlighting the zero fret and/or other nut set up you use. My cbg’s still buzz like sitars! Thank you, Steve
@0:10 Strings
@0:43 F# B D# ( open B)
@2:10 E B E ( E power chord)
@3:42 G B E ( bottom three strings of standard guitar tuning)
@6:06 G B D ( open G)
@7:18 E B F# ( tuned in 5ths)
I used a 6th bonus tuning, Gb, Bb, Eb (Top 3 Strings of a Guitar down a half step if you wanna help with Flat keys) just before I updated it into a 6 String so I can make even more tunings. Of course with a 6 String CBG there are 6 string versions of the first 4 tunings already with Standard Strings (7s/Ultra Lights), & for 5ths Tuning (C2, G2, D3, A3, E4, B4) tuning you need Octave4Plus 5ths Tuning Strings (50, 44, 26, 11, 8, 6). I dropped all the tunings down a half step because I'm having trouble singing the high notes, so now Open B is Open Bb (Bb, F, Bb, F, Bb, D), E Power is Eb Power (Eb, Eb, Eb, Eb, Bb, Eb), E Standard is Eb Standard (Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Bb, Eb), Open G is Open Gb (Db, Gb, Db, Gb, Bb, Db), & 5ths Tuning is now a half step lower (Cb, Gb, Db, Ab, Eb, Bb). I prefer using Transposed versions of those Tunings a half step lower because it's easier on my Voice.
You can experiment with dropping all the Tunings down a half step
FAD is a good one. Although you might have to use a different gauge of strings
@@-jank-willsonFAD would basically be GBE but a step lower so that C becomes Bb, D becomes C, etc. For my 6 string CBG Conversion Guitar, I use Magma GAT-D D Standard Tuning strings so I could play in the key of Bb w/ C Chord Shapes.
One of the most informative vid on cbg tunings on the internet. Much appreciated!
Love the sound of that F# tuning, really nice
I have to say... tuned in 5ths sounds quite nice. What a nice helpful video! Looking forward to the next one.
Love love the snippets of theory along with the basics. Wouldn't have thought of the EBe tuning, but it looks easy to grok. Had to smile when you hit the fifths tuning; sounded immediately like my tenor guitars.
FAD is good too. minor open D. You can get a minor song without having to do any minor chords, all you do is put finger across all 3 strings at a fret.
I don't know if Del reads the comments so I'll just tell the rest of the world,,,, MangoHead loves Puckett CBG video.
Always interesting, informative, educational and presented in a really easy going natural fashion.
Plus he seems like a nice guy, which I'm sure he is. I am learning so much from his video's and love his CBG's, If I didn't live in Malaysia I'd buy a couple of his guitars but the shipping cost would make them the most expensive CBG's in the world (worth every penny I'm sure)....
Thank you Del, sharing your years of knowlage and experience is a nobal thing to do and opens new possiblities for anyone who wants to learn.
This is the great thing about UA-cam and the internet it brings us infinite information and pleasure...... Oh gotta go, I just heard the Earth is Flat and Elvis is alive and well, working as a janitor at Graceland.
Regards MangoHead...
Del Puckett read the comments ...eventually :-) Thank you for your kind words Mangohead. Much appreciated.
I'm converting my 4 string Cigar Box Guitar into a 6 string Cigar Box Guitar, more specifically a 6 string Cigar Box Guitar in B Flat, it's tuned a step below EADGBE (so DGCFAD) w/ Magma GAT-D Strings.
Sounds beautiful, i'll definitely be trying out these.
👍👍 I may be a little late to the party
But this video helped me get a grip on
what's going on without my other 3strings ! 👍👍
Great video! Love the various tunings...Since I prefer frettless, I like the 1 5 8 tuning...lots of fun sliding with 3 strings...especially with a little distortion. I have noticed lots of lead players use 3 strings, so you are on the money...the secret of playing well is using the whole neck...know your chord inversions and be able to pick out the melody in each spot.
Totally agree!
@@PuckettCigarBoxGuitar How about down a half step?
I went with a 7th Bonus Tuning. That 7th Tuning is D F# B which is the top 3 Strings of a Guitar down a Fourth (if you think Baritone Guitar) because I'm having alot of problems singing the High notes.
Your videos are great, no stupid rhetoric, down to the point and you know what you are doing. How do Igo about getting a quote for a CBG idea Ihave in mind?
Love the little ditty on the 5th!
Hi Del. I started out with the 026, 017 and 013 but found that they were too stiff on my 26 1/2" VSL guitar. So I ditched the 026, moved the others down and added an 011. Tunes up fine and I don't end up cutting my fingers to shreds. Mostly I stick to EBe and GBe. Many thanks.
If you wish you could substitute the 17p with an 18w.
26w 17w and 13p would work best if you drop all the tunings down a perfect fourth into a Baritone Register
yeayyyiiiii well done Del.. you're awesome ... all the info for all the guys that needs it ..
If I’m going to play blues or some AC/DC ..I like E.B.e ...most every thing else my preference is G.D.g ...that’s what makes cigar box so versatile ...open tuning to your liking ....Thanks for another great upload 😎🎼👍
Thanks so much. I'm gonna try open G because that's the key I sing best in!
Would you please do a video on DAD tuning? I could barely find any decent videos on how to play the chords on DAD.
love this Vid and my fav is the last Tuning !! TYVM
How about Gb, Bb, Eb (Top 3 Strings of a Guitar down a Half Step) as the 6th Bonus Tuning? It's great for transposing down a Half Step if you can't sing high enough.
This guy can really play !! Excellent.
Great video ur a good teacher thank Definitely considering one.❤
If you only had the diatonic frets on that instrument, it would be a (cigar box) dulcimer/strumstick. Or you could say that the instrument is a chromatic strumstick. Because it has the lighter gauge strings. CBG's typically have the 3 or 4 heaviest string gauges of a 6-string guitar, whilst dulcimers have the thinnest 3 strings of a regular guitar string set.
GCG, CGC, DAA, DAD, DAC, and FAD are common tunings of a strumstick dulcimer, so those tunings should also work for this instrument in the video as well.
Greg Ori here .......Thanks for that... Very informative... thankyou.
Too bad to know about all those tuning possibilities. Now I have to build a few more CBG‘s to have every different tuning on one of them 😅🤪
Thanks, Del 😀👍🏻
Btw, how can anyone dislike this video? Must be pure envy.
and sizes... and colors ... and shapes.... different boxes... etc 😎
@@PuckettCigarBoxGuitar How do you know what I‘m thinking? 😂😂😂
When I play a regular guitar I tend to play five string open G. I know a lot of people like to play CBG with the three low strings from that tuning (GDG), but I prefer to take the two low strings and then raise up the third string to a B. Like the five string tuning but missing out the middle string of the five. Still great sounding with slide, but I find it more versatile and it allows you to get that Keith Richards sound. Fret a barre wherever you like, hit the strings, then hammer on your ring finger two frets above your barre on the middle string and your middle finger one fret above the barre. Before you know it you have honky tonk women or start me up. Or if the Dandy Warhols are more your thing then you could go for bohemian like you.
so you remove the 6th string from your guitar and only play it with 5 strings?
@@-jank-willson yes I've been playing five string open G for a long time. I started because it's all but impossible to play some Stones stuff in standard tuning (along with some other songs) but over the years I've adapteda lot of other stuff to that tuning too. And then there's the guitbass and bassitar stuff as well, but that's a whole other story.
@@jollyboyspecial if you capo just the 5th string, then you'd have a banjo-guitar. Or if it is an electric guitar, you'd have a 'banjo-caster'...
Why not Gb, Bb, Eb? It's the same as the top 3 Strings of a Standard 6 String Cigar Box Guitar in Eb Standard.
Why not try a 6th Bonus Tuning? G-Flat, B-Flat, E-Flat (Top 3 Strings of Eb Standard Tuning) you could play in Flat Keys more easily. Now if we go down another half step to F A D (Top 3 Strings of D Standard Tuning) we've got a 7th Bonus tuning so you can play in the Key of Bb Major with C Major Chord Shapes, etc as we keep using lower tunings.
Great information Del!
Thanks buddy i wish i had you skills" great video thanks.
Great vid....I feel a project coming on....
great, thx , survey on the last tuning was just like a blueprint to all Foofighters' tunes :)
R u using nickel strings like on a electric guitar?
Hi Dell, I don't know how to play guitar and I wonder if there is a method to learn to play CB guitars, what would be the first chords to learn? It would be nice if you can make a video about it. Kind regards from Schwarzach Vorarlberg Austria
WOW. You were really thinking on this.. Absolutely great idea. _ thanks loads
There's a big gap between the 4 and 6 String Cigar Box Guitars that needs to be filled up, the 5 String CBG.
Which is better for slide:
EBE or G#BE?
This is just what I need, man thanks!
What did you use to finish that finger board? Nice shine
Gettin a lot of mileage out of three strings! Nice vid
How do you decorate all these positions and have muscle memory for all these tunings?
Exploring... searching... remembering... forgetting... 😆
Very interesting tuning ideas, thanks for taking the time to record this!
Do you have any thoughts on tuning to E - A - E ? It's a similar sound to the regular power chord tuning (E - B - E) and you can switch very quickly between (for example) an A power chord (E - A - E) and the chord a fifth above it, an E power chord (E - B - E).
GanzGrossesTennis ill give it a try... :-)
I use similar. DAD tuning. And use only a slide as my cigar box has no frets.
@@chrisw5742 I was going to use the dad tuning because my cigar box says father on it (and it works) I also play in drop d a lot and having it there all the time sounds great
Enjoying your videos Del! Maybe you could do one on how to make button inlays?
good stuff, thanks Del
so which one is recommended for mostly fingerpicking?
i recommend ALL OF THEM .. and more 😎
Dell how can i get more out of my frett boards.? I have a ton of maple. Birds eye and plain. Great action and play ablity. Seems like there is more to it than i know!
your instructions and tuition are so easy to follow .but a bit confused as every one else say that open G is tuned GDG
Paul Bregmen gbd is like the top 3 strings on a 5 string bsnjo!
Never thought to use gbd I already know banjo chords so thats great! I tune my 4string cbg's dgbd so that makes total sense! As always THANK YOU DEL!!!
thanks for explaining that will try it on my next build which will be a tenor guitar .cheers Paul
Paul Bregmen both are true ... GDG is open G power chord (151). GBD is open G major (135). I should have specified
GBD is instantly recognizable to dobro players .
GBD is the Open G Triad ( 1-3-5 ) . It can get muddy with heavy distortion , but is very rich and full when played mostly clean .
I substitute them all with Wound versions of the same gauge
Again very helpful! Could You do the same for four strings?
3:42 Of course that tuning (Open Em) is the same tuning used on the Loog 3 String Acoustic & Electric Guitars (Mini, and Pro) because this makes the transition from these to a Standard 6 String Guitar (such as the all new Loog Pro VI) easier. Fun fact 4 Strings is a good update from a 3 String, then a 5 String, a Standard 6 String, etc because it broadens your range, mind, & repertoire. Of course to fill the gaps between the 4 & 6 String Cigar Box Guitars a 5 String Cigar Box plectrum guitar should be added:ua-cam.com/video/YtiVLOkGQLU/v-deo.html Tuning for a 5 String Plectrum Banjo/Guitar is F, C, G, B, D. If you raise the two lowest strings on the Plectrum Guitar up a step, then you're in 5 String Open G (G, D, G, B, D) & now you're playing just like Keith Richards on a 5 String Plectrum Guitar.
For me since I've updated to a 6 String Cigar Box Guitar, I took the 6 String Versions of those tunings (5ths Tuning required Octave4+ 5ths Tuning Strings in the lightest recommended gauges possible) & dropped them down a half step because the High notes easier on my Voice.
I just started watching your videos today, you are very good at what you teach. On the first video that I viewed, I asked a question as to how you determine string gauge for tunings. I am concerned about breakage if I put on the wrong string for the key. After watching this video, I figured it would be a better question for others in this video, since this tutorial covers alternate tunings. I own dulcimers, and the Seagull Merlins, and I'm not sure what strings to buy. Is there a chart for this?
My best advice is to get in touch with someone at "stringjoy.com" they have all the answers to those questions
@@PuckettCigarBoxGuitar thank you for your quick response, I will check them out, keep em coming, you are a pleasure to watch.
Just a recap bro thank you ❤️
How about G6 tuning? GBE, tropical island tuning.
1:30 in the town of agua fria rode a stranger one fine day
All the strings can be wound cause Octave4Plus now has Wound strings as thin as 13.
Which octaves are the EBE tuned to 3 or 4
What about dae for mandolin players? I use dgbd on my 4 string cbg's cause I'm a banjo player. I will definitely try gbd on my 3 string! Thank You Del!!!!!
Wow! Can you make more videos, where you just play or teach some tricks on these cigar box guitars?
I try
@@PuckettCigarBoxGuitar thanks man :))
Is a specific angle for the bridge the you use. I notice you angle it! Thanks!
Intonation requires a slight angle due to string thickness variation
Mine is in d tuning. I play a lot of covers on it and have a bass range voice.
Great Video - How would you tune a cigar box guitar to a Woodrow?
good question.. not sure ... :-/
Wow good to know thanks
@UC3g-jPtySGcjUdY9xRT1vRw
What about a 4 String Cigar Box Guitar in Fifths? You can tune it like a Violin an Octave lower.
what ?! am i the first making a comments this time??! really ...!?!? i'm glad .. :-)
Just Tuning vs Standard Tuning.I know piano tuning is compromised. But why?
I do the 1.5.1 fret board. Is there a better one to use?
that's what i use :-) Keep in mind, on equal tempered fretboard you can tune any string to any note and it will work. that's the beauty on Equal temperament. On a Just Intonation fretboard your definitely "stuck" with the 151 interval for your open strings. make sense??
@@PuckettCigarBoxGuitar yes makes sence. I guess ill stay with the eq temper. Thanks Dell
Very nice..
Give you credit were credit is due my friend. Nice work
If I knew jack about theory id become twice the player.always a pleasure, my bro.Learned a bunch.Guess ya can teach an old dog new tricks.
Del, TERRIFIC video. Could you please make one highlighting the zero fret and/or other nut set up you use. My cbg’s still buzz like sitars!
Thank you, Steve
Steven Boyer you got it... stay tuned :-)
Uhhh...a .13 is not a typical high E
Still an informative video nonetheless, thanks x]
Stevie Ray Vaughn used 13's for the high E. it's tight :-)
#5 sounds like something Joni would have played
Can you give me a guitar
Very thanks!