The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #126768 Message #2819957
Posted By: Stower
23-Jan-10 - 08:06 PM
Thread Name: Re-entrant tuning: why?
Subject: RE: Re-entrant tuning: why?
Stringsinger, I'm not really sure I understood your explanation or what you mean by closed and open voicings, and I am not entirely sure you have re-entrant tuning right, for that reason. Please explain further if I have that wrong.
Leadfingers, re-entrant tuning is simply this. Most stringed instruments are tuned sequentially. In other words, strings are ordered low to high in pitch (or high to low, depending on which way you're looking at it). On a guitar, for example, going low to high, the bottom e string is pitched below the a above, which in turn is pitched below the d above, which is below the g, which is below the b, which is below the top e in pitch. It is a logical sequence.
Re-entrant tuning has one or more string out of sequence.
So, for example, the top strings on a theorbo are an octave below the pitch you would expect on a sequentially tuned lute.
The bottom string on a 5 string banjo is not the bottom in pitch. The same is true on a ukulele. Hence the term re-entrant. You expect a sequence from low to high, but if we play the higher-than-you-might-expect bottom string, then the next string, that next string 're-enters' the normal low to high sequence, rather than following in the usual low to high order.
This has been more difficult than I imagined to explain! I hope that is clear. If not, Leadfingers, do ask and I'll have another go!
Stower.