The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #126768 Message #2819462
Posted By: Will Fly
23-Jan-10 - 11:00 AM
Thread Name: Re-entrant tuning: why?
Subject: RE: Re-entrant tuning: why?
From Wikipedia (on the ukulele):
Advantages of high-4th tuning
* Distinctive sound to chords, which is the intended sound for most ukulele music.
* The open strings are kept within a smaller range, giving a more even feel and tone.
* Avoids the need for a wound 4th string, again giving a more even feel and tone.
* Clawhammer strumming is possible, using the 4th string similarly to the melody-string of a five-string banjo.
* For all but the baritone, string sets for high-4th tuning are readily available, while strings for low-4th tuning must often be bought separately or even adapted from guitar strings.
Advantages of low-4th tuning
* Extends the instrument's range by five semitones, giving greater melodic possibilities and/or greater choice of keys when playing melodies.
* Enables more open chord positions, giving less disonance on disonant chords such as chords of the seventh.
* Avoids doubling exactly the same pitch on major and minor triad chords, which otherwise makes tuning extremely critical.
Take with a pinch of salt, perhaps, as it's Wikipedia - but it seems OK for a start on the topic...