Hi there,
I want to tune my bouzouki to GDAD but am having real problems tuning the octave strings.
Can someone please give me an idiots guide? I know bugger all music theory and have searched the net high and low and just can't find a guide I can follow (plenty on greek tuning)..
Is it like a guitar where I place my finger on the 5th fret to tune the one below and so on? If so which frets can I use on the main strings to tune the octaves too?
I'd really appreciate some help here as I've spent hours at this over weeks. I've had it sounding ok by ear a few times but I just want to know the correct way to go about getting it tuned.
I have a Chromatic tuner if that helps but would like to learn by ear first.
Once the thicker G string is tuned its thinner octave is tuned by fretting the 12th fret.
The D is tuned by fretting the G string on the 7th fret and then tuning its octave at the 12th. The 2 A’s are tuned by fretting the D string on the 7th fret. These strings should be tuned to an equal pitch. And finally the D strings are tuned by fretting the A on the 5th fret. These should also be tuned to an equal pitch. You can cross check both lower and higher D’s.
Hope this is of some help.
Play the G course at the 7th fret, and tune the D strings to that.
Play the D course at the 7th fret, and tune the A strings to that.
Play the A course at the 5th fret, and tune the high D strings to that (or just compare them against the lower D strings, and make them an octave higher.
Just to add that;
you're talking about the 'lower' strings positionally, whereas the lowest string is the thickest string, the one that plays the lowest note. Forget about which string is closest to the floor as it sits on your lap in playing position, that's a diversion from the truth.
PS Although they are taking away some people's ability to hear their own tuning errors, I'd suggest getting a tuner, which will solve half your problems. Eventually you should be able to hear basic things that you are currently struggling with. After you have the bouzouki and its case, a tuner seems such a small expense - you'll be spending that much in replacement strings every six months anyway.
PPS To avoid accumulated errors, always try to check, if manually tuning, the string against one two strings higher, by octaves.
Thanks for all the detailed help. You guys really came through. But Good god, another evening, another broken string, an exasperated girlfriend who has to listen to this racket.
I'm really stuck. I'm used to open tunings on guitar and re-tuning the Uke by ear to different tunings but this is just doing my head in. Is it beyond me? I'm thinking of throwing in the towel. Someone give me some hope :(
You might try simply tuning the courses in unison which is probably more typical usage for an irish zouk. Use the same guage for both strings of a course. I have never contemplated octave tuning - simple unison tuning sounds good to me.
Also, I assume you are not trying to octave tune the higher a and d strings... these will have to be in unison regardless of whether or not you unison tune the lower G and D.
If you're constantly breaking strings, you might be using the wrong gauge for your particular instrument.
What's the scale length of the instrument, and what gauge strings are you using?
I never liked the pre-packaged sets of strings for any of my bouzoukis or octave mandolins, so I always ended up buying single strings of the right gauges.
If you can measure the scale length (from nut to bridge), we can help you figure out the right sized strings for the instrument.
Have you ever tried a DAea tuning on the zouk. Currently I'm usng GDad but have migrated my tenor banjo to DAea and am kind of liking it. I thought I might try it on the zouk but haven't come across anyone using it. At worst I will waste one set of strings...
It sounds like you're early on in the tuning process, not to say the general stuff.
I was kind of making the assumption that you were transferring your skills from the guitar, which is a start.
If you have a guitar, or even better a guitarist, to hand, you could try, with their assistance, tuning.
After all, bottom G on the 'zouk is 3rd fret on the bottom E string of the guitar.
D is the same as the 4th string on the guitar.
A is the same as the 3rd string on the guitar, fretted at the 2nd fret.
top D is 2nd string guitar, 3rd fret.
If you're putting on octaves, then the high G string is the same as the open 3rd string on the guitar, top octave D string is the same as your top strings.
Incidentally, I find the shop bouzouki sets fine for gauge, but of course make sure you have Irish 'zouk sets, NOT Greek 'zouk !
Mayber some people might find them light, but they work for me. Perhaps your problem is you are trying to take everything up another octave by mistake - that would be disaster.
karsin, I toyed around with DADA a little bit, but not much. I don't actually play much bouzouki these days - mostly tenor banjo, where I am firmly entrenched in GDAE.
But I'm not sure what the use of having a lot of ringing open A strings would be, unless you're playing a lot of Scottish stuff, or something.
Tuning the Irish bouzouki GDAD. Help please
Tuning the Irish bouzouki GDAD. Help please
Hi there,
I want to tune my bouzouki to GDAD but am having real problems tuning the octave strings.
Can someone please give me an idiots guide? I know bugger all music theory and have searched the net high and low and just can't find a guide I can follow (plenty on greek tuning)..
Is it like a guitar where I place my finger on the 5th fret to tune the one below and so on? If so which frets can I use on the main strings to tune the octaves too?
I'd really appreciate some help here as I've spent hours at this over weeks. I've had it sounding ok by ear a few times but I just want to know the correct way to go about getting it tuned.
I have a Chromatic tuner if that helps but would like to learn by ear first.
Thanks in anticipation.
Jodymoop
# Posted on April 8th 2010 by Jodymoop
Re: Tuning the Irish bouzouki GDAD. Help please
If you can't hear the octave gap then putting your finger on the 12th fret will give you the note an octave above.
# Posted on April 8th 2010 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: Tuning the Irish bouzouki GDAD. Help please
Is that for the first 2 sets. So my G+D octaves should sound the same as those strings played on the 12th fret?
What do I do with the bottom 2 sets A+D?
Sorry for being so clueless and thanks for your speedy help No Cause For Alarm
# Posted on April 8th 2010 by Jodymoop
Re: Tuning the Irish bouzouki GDAD. Help please
Once the thicker G string is tuned its thinner octave is tuned by fretting the 12th fret.
The D is tuned by fretting the G string on the 7th fret and then tuning its octave at the 12th. The 2 A’s are tuned by fretting the D string on the 7th fret. These strings should be tuned to an equal pitch. And finally the D strings are tuned by fretting the A on the 5th fret. These should also be tuned to an equal pitch. You can cross check both lower and higher D’s.
Hope this is of some help.
# Posted on April 8th 2010 by JudeThomas
Re: Tuning the Irish bouzouki GDAD. Help please
And then to tune the strings to each other, you:
Play the G course at the 7th fret, and tune the D strings to that.
Play the D course at the 7th fret, and tune the A strings to that.
Play the A course at the 5th fret, and tune the high D strings to that (or just compare them against the lower D strings, and make them an octave higher.
Does that help?
# Posted on April 8th 2010 by Reverend
Re: Tuning the Irish bouzouki GDAD. Help please
Just to add that;
you're talking about the 'lower' strings positionally, whereas the lowest string is the thickest string, the one that plays the lowest note. Forget about which string is closest to the floor as it sits on your lap in playing position, that's a diversion from the truth.
PS Although they are taking away some people's ability to hear their own tuning errors, I'd suggest getting a tuner, which will solve half your problems. Eventually you should be able to hear basic things that you are currently struggling with. After you have the bouzouki and its case, a tuner seems such a small expense - you'll be spending that much in replacement strings every six months anyway.
PPS To avoid accumulated errors, always try to check, if manually tuning, the string against one two strings higher, by octaves.
# Posted on April 8th 2010 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Tuning the Irish bouzouki GDAD. Help please
Thanks for all the detailed help. You guys really came through. But Good god, another evening, another broken string, an exasperated girlfriend who has to listen to this racket.
I'm really stuck. I'm used to open tunings on guitar and re-tuning the Uke by ear to different tunings but this is just doing my head in. Is it beyond me? I'm thinking of throwing in the towel. Someone give me some hope :(
# Posted on April 8th 2010 by Jodymoop
Re: Tuning the Irish bouzouki GDAD. Help please
Don't worry, much more of it and she won't be your girlfriend much longer. You need to get twanging her G string !!!!!
# Posted on April 8th 2010 by strayaway
Re: Tuning the Irish bouzouki GDAD. Help please
You might try simply tuning the courses in unison which is probably more typical usage for an irish zouk. Use the same guage for both strings of a course. I have never contemplated octave tuning - simple unison tuning sounds good to me.
Also, I assume you are not trying to octave tune the higher a and d strings... these will have to be in unison regardless of whether or not you unison tune the lower G and D.
# Posted on April 9th 2010 by karsin
Re: Tuning the Irish bouzouki GDAD. Help please
Hi Karsin, I got a set of unison strings. Still broke one
Does anyone know a youtube video of the tuning process?
# Posted on April 9th 2010 by Jodymoop
Re: Tuning the Irish bouzouki GDAD. Help please
If you're constantly breaking strings, you might be using the wrong gauge for your particular instrument.
What's the scale length of the instrument, and what gauge strings are you using?
I never liked the pre-packaged sets of strings for any of my bouzoukis or octave mandolins, so I always ended up buying single strings of the right gauges.
If you can measure the scale length (from nut to bridge), we can help you figure out the right sized strings for the instrument.
# Posted on April 9th 2010 by Reverend
Re: Tuning the Irish bouzouki GDAD. Help please
Hi Reverend,
Have you ever tried a DAea tuning on the zouk. Currently I'm usng GDad but have migrated my tenor banjo to DAea and am kind of liking it. I thought I might try it on the zouk but haven't come across anyone using it. At worst I will waste one set of strings...
# Posted on April 9th 2010 by karsin
Re: Tuning the Irish bouzouki GDAD. Help please
It sounds like you're early on in the tuning process, not to say the general stuff.
I was kind of making the assumption that you were transferring your skills from the guitar, which is a start.
If you have a guitar, or even better a guitarist, to hand, you could try, with their assistance, tuning.
After all, bottom G on the 'zouk is 3rd fret on the bottom E string of the guitar.
D is the same as the 4th string on the guitar.
A is the same as the 3rd string on the guitar, fretted at the 2nd fret.
top D is 2nd string guitar, 3rd fret.
If you're putting on octaves, then the high G string is the same as the open 3rd string on the guitar, top octave D string is the same as your top strings.
Incidentally, I find the shop bouzouki sets fine for gauge, but of course make sure you have Irish 'zouk sets, NOT Greek 'zouk !
Mayber some people might find them light, but they work for me. Perhaps your problem is you are trying to take everything up another octave by mistake - that would be disaster.
# Posted on April 10th 2010 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Tuning the Irish bouzouki GDAD. Help please
karsin, I toyed around with DADA a little bit, but not much. I don't actually play much bouzouki these days - mostly tenor banjo, where I am firmly entrenched in GDAE.
But I'm not sure what the use of having a lot of ringing open A strings would be, unless you're playing a lot of Scottish stuff, or something.
# Posted on April 10th 2010 by Reverend
Re: Tuning the Irish bouzouki GDAD. Help please
Jodymoop I would find someone local to show you if I where you
# Posted on April 10th 2010 by bazouki dave
Re: Tuning the Irish bouzouki GDAD. Help please
I got it tuned finally, it seemed to just ckick for me last night after I'd absorbed all you guys have written here.
Thanks you all for the great help and taking the time to impart so much knowledge
Sincere appreciation,
jodymoop
# Posted on April 12th 2010 by Jodymoop
Re: Tuning the Irish bouzouki GDAD. Help please
Good to hear that. Next hard part is playing the thing!! lol
# Posted on April 12th 2010 by karsin