[Dixielandjazz] Re: Tenor guitar?

[jsbarque at netscape.net]

Bob. I am sure the Plectrum guitar is tuned the same as a plectrum banjo i.e. C-B-G-D (4,3,2,1). Eddie Condon played a beautiful Gibson PG4 Plectrum guitar in the early 30s and you can see photos in his biography. 4 strings, 22 frets, F-holes, accoustic. I have one and always tune it the same as my banjo. It arouses curiosity from onlookers who are often experts on guitar and haven't seen a plectrum guitar before. They often argue that it is a tenor guitar until the difference in tuning and number of frets is explained.

These days the term "plectrum guitar" seems to apply to any 6-string accoustic guitar played with a plectrum. It is easy for a guitar player to tune a plectrum guitar or plectrum banjo to the top 4 of the guitat as you described. This was discussed on the list several years ago and is termed "Chicago Tuning" (the name sounds great). It gives a thinner sound, however, as the notes are grouped closer. Also, the proper plectrum banjo tuning lends itself to chord solos whereas the banjo tuned to guitar loses out on the advantage of the lower two strings - you might as well have a 6-string neck attached and be done with it.

cheers

Tony Orr
Riviera Dixieland Jazz Band
Sale, Vic


Bob Loomis <miltloomis at yahoo.com> wrote:

>Gary Kiser wrote:
>"Our guitar player is very interested in a buying
>
>tenor guitar (4 string tuned as violin) while we
>are in Sacramento.  He has an alto guitar right
>now and feels a bit limited on the fret board. 
>Any suggestions??"
>
>   Well, the tenor guitar is usually tuned like a
>tenor banjo (or mandola or viola): CGDA. This
>enables use of the same chord forms as violion
>(or mandolin). There are many tunings though. I
>think www.tenorguitar.com (or .org?) is a site
>all about tenor guitars. I have owned several,
>but have none now. There is also the slightly
>bigger plectrum guitar, which is tuned like the
>top four strings of a guitar, DGBE. I do know
>that LArk in the Morning (www.larkinam.com) now
>sells a tenor guitar for something around $300,
>as I recall. I have no firsthand knowldge of how
>decent they are as far as quality. Martin used to
>make some fine tenor guitars, and there are good
>Regals. Another good Web site to look at is
>www.bernunzio.com where he has tenor guitars
>mized in with his guitar inventory listings.
>There's often a good bvintage buy there. Hope
>this helps.
>
>Happy Webtrails, Bob Loomis
>
>
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