hello everybody!
I own a 26.5' bouzouki that fits very well for chords and cross picking using GDAD.
Playing tunes is often hard due to long stretches ( namely G on the 5th fret of the second string , tunes in Em and so on).
It is just a matter of training? I need a shorter scale instrument?
Which scale is better? Use a capo?
Thank you for help Marco
1) don't change a thing about your instrument and practise like the dickens
pro: get to keep the sound and feel of your instrument
con: very challenging to pull melody off in this tuning with that scale length (I've seen one guy do it, though).
2) get a second instrument with a shorter scale, say 21" or 22" and use it for melody playing
pro: get instrument which is much better suited to melody playing
con: extra expense, more junk to carry and store
3) A few folks in these parts with long-scale zouks tune them FCGD, put a capo on the second fret and use them for both melody and chords. They always enjoy playing my 21" scale instruments in comparison to their own, FWIW.
pro: no expense beyond a capo, no extra stuff to carry/store
con: looser string tension/heavier strings will alter sound and feel of your instrument
1) Be glad I was born with large enough hands and fingers to reach the fifth and seventh frets on the first string (I tune GDAE, by the way) on a consistent-enough basis.
I have two fairly low-level bouzoukis. The best one I keep tuned ADAD for accompaniment. I lowered the pitch of the other one a whole tone from GDAE and capo'd up two frets. That works fairly well but in GDAD your stretches will be longer. I read or heard someone (I think it was Robin Bullock) explaining that when he plays in GDAD he plays a lot on the 2nd course if he's going to be playing up to A or B. So to play up the scale from the open first string you would play D (first course open), then play E, F# and G on the 2nd course and A and B on the first. That can be tricky on some tunes but you don't have much stretching to do.
playing tunes on long scale bouzouki
playing tunes on long scale bouzouki
hello everybody!
I own a 26.5' bouzouki that fits very well for chords and cross picking using GDAD.
Playing tunes is often hard due to long stretches ( namely G on the 5th fret of the second string , tunes in Em and so on).
It is just a matter of training? I need a shorter scale instrument?
Which scale is better? Use a capo?
Thank you for help Marco
# Posted on November 17th 2003 by pizouki
Re: playing tunes on long scale bouzouki
I think there are a few approaches:
1) don't change a thing about your instrument and practise like the dickens
pro: get to keep the sound and feel of your instrument
con: very challenging to pull melody off in this tuning with that scale length (I've seen one guy do it, though).
2) get a second instrument with a shorter scale, say 21" or 22" and use it for melody playing
pro: get instrument which is much better suited to melody playing
con: extra expense, more junk to carry and store
3) A few folks in these parts with long-scale zouks tune them FCGD, put a capo on the second fret and use them for both melody and chords. They always enjoy playing my 21" scale instruments in comparison to their own, FWIW.
pro: no expense beyond a capo, no extra stuff to carry/store
con: looser string tension/heavier strings will alter sound and feel of your instrument
Greg
# Posted on November 18th 2003 by octogreg
Re: playing tunes on long scale bouzouki
For me, it's a two-fold approach:
1) Be glad I was born with large enough hands and fingers to reach the fifth and seventh frets on the first string (I tune GDAE, by the way) on a consistent-enough basis.
2) Pray like mad that I don't develop arthritis.
# Posted on November 18th 2003 by sts
Re: playing tunes on long scale bouzouki
I have two fairly low-level bouzoukis. The best one I keep tuned ADAD for accompaniment. I lowered the pitch of the other one a whole tone from GDAE and capo'd up two frets. That works fairly well but in GDAD your stretches will be longer. I read or heard someone (I think it was Robin Bullock) explaining that when he plays in GDAD he plays a lot on the 2nd course if he's going to be playing up to A or B. So to play up the scale from the open first string you would play D (first course open), then play E, F# and G on the 2nd course and A and B on the first. That can be tricky on some tunes but you don't have much stretching to do.
Steve
# Posted on November 19th 2003 by SteveKendall
Re: playing tunes on long scale bouzouki
The capo is good to play tunes but is bad wen you want to change to acompainement mode
# Posted on November 19th 2003 by pitnekit