Well, it depends on your definition of "cittern". I play a 5 course, archtop instrument made by Fletcher Brock. I usually have it tuned either CGDAD or DGDAE, and as of late, I use octave stringing on the 3 low courses. The things that wouldn't make it a "cittern" is that it has a 24.75" scale length, which is really more of a bouzouki...
But I am not wanting to stir up THAT debate again!
I play a Fylde cittern (the kind they don't make anymore with
the guitar-like bridge). It has 5 courses that I tune GDADA.
I play both melodies and modal two-note chords (ie. no thirds, I guess) to provide a rhythmic accompaniment to tunes I can't play. Given that it has to be fingered like a guitar (i.e., one figure per fret) it is hard to play as fast as a mandolin or tenor banjo. Some reels (e.g, Cooleys) are a lost cause. Also, it isn't really all that loud and in bigger sessions I can't hear myself. On the other hand it sounds so good and in small sessions it really works out well.
Calling all Citterns...
Calling all Citterns...
Hi all,
Just wondering are there many Cittern players on this site?
And, if you are one, whats yours like? (sound, tuning etc).
Regds.
# Posted on September 4th 2007 by seaniemcg
Re: Calling all Citterns...
we can only hope they aren't
# Posted on September 4th 2007 by rob_handel
Re: Calling all Citterns...
im kidding, btw
# Posted on September 4th 2007 by rob_handel
Re: Calling all Citterns...
Made for me by the late Henk De Clou,with a lovely mother of pearl thistle inlaid into the headstock.Tunings-CGDAE,CGDAD,DGDAD,DADAE,DADAD,DAEAE.
# Posted on September 4th 2007 by dafydd
Re: Calling all Citterns...
Well, it depends on your definition of "cittern". I play a 5 course, archtop instrument made by Fletcher Brock. I usually have it tuned either CGDAD or DGDAE, and as of late, I use octave stringing on the 3 low courses. The things that wouldn't make it a "cittern" is that it has a 24.75" scale length, which is really more of a bouzouki...
But I am not wanting to stir up THAT debate again!
Pete
# Posted on September 4th 2007 by Reverend
Re: Calling all Citterns...
The nicest sounding of the big jangle-boxes, IMO. But I'm prejudiced; the work of Stefan Sobell gave them an early folk-revival niche in NE England.
# Posted on September 4th 2007 by nicholas
Re: Calling all Citterns...
Well, exactly, Pete. What *is* a cittern? And why do they have to be so loud?
# Posted on September 5th 2007 by ethical blend
Re: Calling all Citterns...
http://www.flatpicker.com/bullock/article02.htm
http://www.xs4all.nl/~cittern/
http://www.theacousticmusicco.co.uk/erol.html#1X0
http://www.mandolin-player.com/instruments/irish-cittern/
http://www.ceolas.org/instruments/cittern.html
# Posted on September 5th 2007 by dafydd
Re: Calling all Citterns...
I play a Fylde cittern (the kind they don't make anymore with
the guitar-like bridge). It has 5 courses that I tune GDADA.
I play both melodies and modal two-note chords (ie. no thirds, I guess) to provide a rhythmic accompaniment to tunes I can't play. Given that it has to be fingered like a guitar (i.e., one figure per fret) it is hard to play as fast as a mandolin or tenor banjo. Some reels (e.g, Cooleys) are a lost cause. Also, it isn't really all that loud and in bigger sessions I can't hear myself. On the other hand it sounds so good and in small sessions it really works out well.
# Posted on September 10th 2007 by gldms