Cittern tuning

Subject: Cittern tuning
From: alex s
Date: 29 May 17 - 02:41 PM

Any suggestions for 5 course tunings suitable for accompanying a melodion playing mainly in G and sometimes in D. I'd prefer the bass to be G.

Subject: RE: Cittern tuning
From: Stanron
Date: 29 May 17 - 07:06 PM

How about an open tuning, either a G chord or a G equivalent of DADGAD. This would add a C to the open strings on the second or third course. The gauge of the individual strings would depend on the string length and required pitch. There are string tension calculation sites on the web.

Subject: RE: Cittern tuning
From: theleveller
Date: 30 May 17 - 05:47 AM

I tune mine GCGDG (low to high) which allows for single string playing in G or D and also interesting and fairly easy chord shapes up the fretboard, often using the low G as a drone (one of the big advantages of a cittern over a zouk). This works perfectly with the string gauges on the Fylde.