Tres Cubano Tuning: The four Tres tunings I use in my videos | Cuban Tres | Tres Cubano Tuner

I receive at least twenty messages every week with questions about how I tune my Tres, so I thought it was time to make a video that clearly states the different tunings I use, what they sound like and why I use them.
Before I go into the different tunings I want to clarify these two terms:
Octave course:
This is a pair of strings plucked as one that are separated by an octave. There will be a plain string and a wound string, the plain is the higher pitch of the note and the wound is the lower.
Unison course:
This is a pair of strings plucked as one that are the same. The same gauge string and the same pitch.
**Wound strings are noted with uppercase letters and plain strings with lowercase.
The Tunings:
Standard C Tuning GCE (Modern) 0:27
How most Tres players tune, with one octave course on the G and the other two courses in unison. The vast majority of Tres instruction books are written for C tuning with this setup. I've used this in about 75% of my tutorial videos. In Cuba they call a Tres setup like this "Tres Hembra".
The string gauges I use with this tuning are:
g10/G24 c16/c16 e11/e11
D Tuning ADF# (Modern) 1:13
In Cuba called 'Havana Tuning'. Many modern players tune this way, I personally prefer it simply because my instruments seem to resonate better with the added tension. And it gives you more of that 'Pingy' character the Tres is known for. And yes, I've tried simply using higher gauge strings when tuned to C but there's just something about tuning to this frequency that makes a Tres sing.
I've done many tutorials tuned this way, most notably the songs I've done by Tresero Elder Gonzalez Aquino.
The string gauges I use with this tuning are:
f09/F22 d15/d15 f#10/f#10
Traditional Standard C GCE 1:58
This is more setup than tuning. With octave courses on both the G and E and the C course in unison. Typically used in old-school Son & Changüí. All of the old-timers playing on the street in every major city in Cuba will be using this setup and tuning. I use this quite often in my videos, I've done many Septeto Trio Los Dos tunes and their Tresero Pepito Domingo uses this setup and tuning. In Cuba they call a Tres setup like this "Tres Macho".
The string gauges I use with this tuning are:
g10/G24 c16/c16 E26/e11
Note: It was modern players like Pancho Amat and Efrain Rios (& many others) that started incorporating jazz like chords and phrasing into their playing that stopped using the octave course on the E. When playing diminished or minor 7 chords the octave just sounds weird so they swapped the lower string out and made the pair in unison.
Pancho Amat Tuning GBE 2:41
Tuned like the highest three strings on a guitar. This is rarely used but some guitar players who switch to Tres find it makes for an easy transition. I've posted two or three videos tuned this way, all Pancho Amat tunes. Lately I've been transcribing Pancho's songs in standard C simply because most Tres players tune that way.
The string gauges I use with this tuning are:
g10/G24 b16/b16 e11/e11
If you have any further questions that I didn't answer in the video or description please let me know and I'll get back to you.
The song I used in the video is by Efraín Amador Piñero called 'Primavera En Estocolmo' from his epic 2012 recording 'Son Para Un Amigo'. In my opinion every Tres player should have this record. Here's a link to purchase:
www.cdbaby.com...
#TresCubano #CubanTres #Tresero
My channel is not monetized, so I do not make money from my videos. If there are ads running on this video it's because the content is copyrighted and the owner of that copyright is receiving the revenue from the video views.
The song at the end of the video is the classic tune ‘El Reloj De Pastora’ played by the incredible ‘Septeto Trio Los Dos’ who have graciously given me permission to use.
I make and sell Tres Cubano Conversion Kits for Baby Taylor Guitars. The kit can be installed in under 30 minutes with no luthier experience required. They cost $200 (USD) with free shipping worldwide.
You supply the Baby Taylor and I send you everything you need to turn it into a great sounding Cuban Tres.
To order one check out my website:
www.treskits.com
My Links:
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Thanks For Watching!

[@crisbermudez7742]

Thanks for the video ... I just bought a Cuban tres and I got tuned with the C-tuning ... but I changed it to traditional tuning that I like more ... Thanks for the videos, brother.

[@jkarwa234]

WHAT?!?! Pancho tunes GBE!?! I had no idea. Cool.

[@marshwetland3808]

Well done and clearly explained. Excellent. Thanks.

[@calvo1000000]

Excelente, muy útil.
Yo uso la afinación tradicional porque me parece que ayuda más en la "ilusión" de un mayor registro de la que habla Pancho Amat, pero sí es cierto que cuesta mucho llegar a acordes con séptima que suenen bien si la séptima queda octaveada.
Hace poco hice una conversión de guitarra a tres, pero por la cuerdas que tenía disponibles no pude afinarlo en afinación tradicional entonces estoy usando una afinación tradicional en Sol (una 4ta justa más abajo).

[@toshirobirthday]

Thank you for posting this. I used to follow your video and it was confusing. Originally I tried traditional tuning with low E. I switched Poncho Amat tuning with kept lower E. I hope it is not too crazy.

[@marcoromo9252]

very helpful, thanks!

[@Javier-nm2kx]

I'm brand new to the Tres world. I'm a guitarist so I think the Panchita Amat tuning is a safe starting place for me. In tuning, are the G and C strings in unison? Obviously the E will be in different octaves....(please pardon the ignorant question) or do you have another video that breaks it down that simple?

[@matiasrecondo9357]

Hello, thank you for your tutorials!
I have a tres cubano tuned to GCE standard like yours (10,24w, 16,16, 11,11) .
Could i use the D tuning without changing the cords like yours? ( 09,22W, 15,15, 10,10)
Thanks

[@TresCubano]

Hi Matias,
Yes, you certainly can.
I really like tuning to D, because of the added tension you get far more ping.
Don't worry about going down on the gauge, just tune up a full step.
And you're welcome for the tutorials! It's my pleasure.
Thank you for watching!
Cheers.

[@matiasrecondo9357]

@@TresCubano thank you very much! i'm trying the D tuning, it sounds better for me, but it's hard to find video tutorials with this tuning, because they are all GCE

[@carlosgodinez9481]

ua-cam.com/video/E7KYyeZEdiU/v-deo.html Amalia batista La Original sexteto habanero Godinez1916