Some tunings for 4 String Cigar Box Guitar

A video describing some of the options when tuning the 4 string cigar box guitar. Depending on the strings chosen there are many possibilities.
VARIOUS 4 STRING TUNINGS FOR CBG
Open G - GDGB ( middle set of strings)
Standard- GDGE( middle set of strings)
Open G - DGBD ( high set of strings)
Open D - DF#AD (high set)
Can also drop tuning to
Open C - CGCE (high set)
Or something I don’t personally do, but a perfectly good choice:
Use the LOW 4 strings, EADG
Standard - use standard chord shapes, good baritone sound.
Open E - EBEG#
Open D - DF#AD
And so on: lots of possibilities!

[@jeanlauer543]

I'm a ukelele player and I was looking for m3 tuning examples. Couldn't find any so I looked up 4 string guitar and found your site. Super. Now I'm thinking about getting a cigar box guitar.

[@OctiveKyla]

Thank you! Awesome video.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Before we get carried away into moving from that to the 6 String Cigar Box Guitar we need to fill that gap up with a 5 String Cigar Box Guitar which is also becoming more popular these days due to its increased versatility and tunings like Banjo Tuning for example.

[@tikibarry2279]

Excellent !!!

[@junkboxguitars2461]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

JN Guitars makes The Cask series which they're Cigar Box Tenor Guitars. You can actually tune them like a Tenor Guitar (with any Tenor Guitar string set) which makes them really come to life by extending the range.

[@sideman7117]

Excellent lesson. Thx

[@evandrospindler6358]

Aqui em santa Catarina no Brasil aprendendo com a sua afinação ... Parabéns 👏

[@MinimGuitars]

Nice video! I use ADGB a lot - so literally just the same as the four middle strings of a standard 6 string. Obviously the chord shapes remain the same but the missing low E string makes some of them sound like inversions which is interesting. It seems like a really obvious choice but I've not seen many people using it, surely someone must have - apologies if I missed it anywhere!

[@junkboxguitars2461]

I must check that out! Thanks!

[@MinimGuitars]

@@junkboxguitars2461 No worries! hope you find something good to do with it.

[@johnwashburn3793]

Thanks

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

How about a 6 String in raised B with a .006 High B.

[@PuzzledlifeTV]

i've got a mate that handed me a 4-string cigar box guitar because he saw i played the standard guitar, he said 'can you string this?' I said 'i'll give it a shot; bought some medium gauge metal strings, but havent a clue which of the 6 strings to use? I've heard so much about 'string theory' I'm at a loss as to which strings to use? I would like to set it up as an electric slide guitar, very bluesy, and would like to know which string set up would be best? Slainte.

[@junkboxguitars2461]

For Open G (middle) tuning, I use the 2nd (B) to the 5th (A) strings and then tune (low pitch to high) G-D-G-B. Nice beefy open G.
For Open G (high) I use strings 1-4 (E-B-G-D HIGH TO LOW), and tune high E down to D… so Low to high = D-G-B-D

[@baojiffy]

What pickups are you using? These sound amazing.

[@bombercountyblues]

Have you ever tried 5 strings tuned 1-5-1-5-1 like a couple of 3 stringers, high n low ,with the centre string connecting em.?

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

That would rock

[@bombercountyblues]

@@RockStarOscarStern634 it does... check out "Cam Cole".

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@bombercountyblues The 5 String Cigar Box Guitar really fills the gap between the 4 and 6 String models. Plus the 5 String CBG can be tuned and played like a 5 String Bluegrass Banjo but with a Full Length drone string that eliminates the need to have a 5th String Banjo capo.

[@bombercountyblues]

@@RockStarOscarStern634 😂

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@bombercountyblues You can actually tune a 5 String Cigar Box Guitar like a Banjo so that you can practice your Banjo stuff with a Guitar sound.