The Quintar Project: Popularizing an All Fifths Tuning
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Re: The Quintar Project: Popularizing an All Fifths Tuning
Hi Bob and Hans,
Another tuning scheme I use for 5 course Octave mandolins ( some call citterns) is GDAea. The distance between the e and a is only a forth I believe, but it seems to make chord playing a little easier.
Another tuning scheme I use for 5 course Octave mandolins ( some call citterns) is GDAea. The distance between the e and a is only a forth I believe, but it seems to make chord playing a little easier.
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Re: The Quintar Project: Popularizing an All Fifths Tuning
my knowledge of music theory can be written on one 3"x5" notecard. But my ears tell me that for a short - scaled instrument, that a fanned-fret/multi-scale fingerboard is good. It just sounds better.
- Hans Bezemer
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Re: The Quintar Project: Popularizing an All Fifths Tuning
Regarding your music theory, I think the most important things easily fit on a notecard. At the end of the day it are just 12 notes of which some are either played together and / or proceeding each other, with a certain rhythm and volume.Bob Hammond wrote:my knowledge of music theory can be written on one 3"x5" notecard. But my ears tell me that for a short - scaled instrument, that a fanned-fret/multi-scale fingerboard is good. It just sounds better.
But getting this in your brain, heart and hands will take up the rest of your live, at least mine....
But I agree on the fanned fret issue, it really helps to balance an instrument.
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Re: The Quintar Project: Popularizing an All Fifths Tuning
"But my ears tell me that for a short - scaled instrument, that a fanned-fret/multi-scale fingerboard is good. It just sounds better."
And many people build them for long scaled instruments to improve ergonomics.
And many people build them for long scaled instruments to improve ergonomics.
- Hans Bezemer
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Re: The Quintar Project: Popularizing an All Fifths Tuning
Which is definitely a second advantage.Clay Schaeffer wrote: And many people build them for long scaled instruments to improve ergonomics.
I think fanned frets are by far the better option for fretted instruments, I have played I lot with them. But building-wise they are a bit more demanding, outlining and cutting the frets require more time and it can cause some trouble at the nut / headstock.
For unfretted instruments an disadvantage is that you have to learn a lot more positions.
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Re: The Quintar Project: Popularizing an All Fifths Tuning
Hans, I looked over what you wrote about string gauges, and thought about it. This guitar is newly constructed, and it's quite unique.
So I installed a heavier 0.054 gauge string. in the A position, and I find that it improves the sound.
So I installed a heavier 0.054 gauge string. in the A position, and I find that it improves the sound.
- Hans Bezemer
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Re: The Quintar Project: Popularizing an All Fifths Tuning
Great! It really is a beautiful instrument.
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Re: The Quintar Project: Popularizing an All Fifths Tuning
Hans, I'm taking it a nearby guitarist by the name of Alex Rogowski, to see what he can make of it. I think his principal in interests are jazz and Brazilian music, and he has published some exercises and reference material. You can look over his website here: http://www.aguitaristsnotebook.com/home
- Hans Bezemer
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Re: The Quintar Project: Popularizing an All Fifths Tuning
I've made a short video on how to retune a nylon string acoustic to an All Fifths Tuning.
No adjustments have to be made to the guitar.
With adding a piece of 0,5mm monofilament fishing line I can even tune up to a high B (a fifth higher then a high E string).
No adjustments have to be made to the guitar.
With adding a piece of 0,5mm monofilament fishing line I can even tune up to a high B (a fifth higher then a high E string).
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Re: The Quintar Project: Popularizing an All Fifths Tuning
This experimental instrument is a small-scale build, based on Scott Antes' tenor guitar plans at about 80% size. It features a 23" length with a five-string configuration and a multi-scale fingerboard for improved playability.