The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #122028 Message #2670873
Posted By: SharonA
03-Jul-09 - 03:17 PM
Thread Name: 3/4 size guitar
Subject: RE: 3/4 size guitar
Paul: What Gillie said. Tune it to the same notes, at the same pitches, as on a full-sized guitar.
There is a way that you can tune some of the strings an octave higher, if that is your purpose: use "Nashville Tuning". This is a term which basically means that the guitar is re-strung with the six "other" strings on a 12-string guitar. Strings 3, 4, 5 and 6 are tuned an octave higher than standard tuning; strings 1 and 2 are tuned at the same pitches as for standard tuning. Therefore, the highest pitch would be at string #3, not string #1.
String gauges: The gauges for a medium set would be .012, .016, .010, .014, .020, .030 high to low. A light set would be .010, .014, .009, .012, .018, .027 high to low. All strings are unwound, except for the low E which is wound. You could purchase each string individually, or you could use strings from a 12-string set, or you could purchase a specially-packaged set of strings labeled for Nashville tuing (D'Addario sells a set for acoustic guitar -- ask for item #EJ38H).
Here's a YouTube clip demonstrating the sound of Nashville tuning: Nashville tuning & Martin HD-28 It's a really pretty sound that is especially cool when accompanied by a guitar in standard tuning. If your little guy is new to the guitar, you may want to consider the Nashville tuning option because of the lightness of the string gauges -- it's easier on young, uncallused fingers!