I bought a tenor instead of a 5-string mainly because that's what I learned on initially (eons ago). I used it as a tenor (ie, playing with a pick using CGDA tuning) on my recording. Some months later I was laid up with a broken ankle. To relieve the bordom I wanted to learn some old-timey tunes on it, but played finger-style. I tuned it to open 5ths (CGCG) and started in with a modified flail - doing melody notes with a down-stroke of the index fingernail, then getting a faux-5-string effect by up-stroking with my middle finger on the high string. I knew it was 'wrong', but figured, what the heck, it's a folk instrument, right? Ever watch some of the REAL folks play fiddle - in the crook of their arms??? Sure it's got its limitations, but then so does the rest of my instrumental technique!!!