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#1
10-18-2010, 02:16 PM
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Dedicated Open E Guitar?
I have 2 classical guitars, one of which just doesn't get enough love. I've decided to tune it to open E and leave it there, so that I can work on songs like "Little Martha" with less fuss. But my instructor expressed some concern that the neck might not like the extra tension over time.
Since this guitar is a shorter scale "senorita" size and was built for hard tension strings, I've replaced the 'G3', 'D4' and 'A5' strings with normal tension strings from the same line, hoping to hold the line on total tension on the neck. Is anyone else mixing string tensions with this kind of adjustment? I haven't done the math yet, but it seems to work pretty well. -brian
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03 Raimundo 146 03 Almansa 435s "Senorita" 09 Silver Creek T-170 
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#2
10-18-2010, 02:45 PM
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Why not just tune it to open D?
Same thing, just a step lower.
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#3
10-18-2010, 10:35 PM
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Quote:
 I guess I'd like to retain this guitar's tone, that is, get enough energy into the sound board. As a short scale instrument, it doesn't like tuning down much. That's why it's built for hard tension strings to start with. At any rate, looking at d'addario's site, it looks like I'm adding about 4# of tension overall to the neck, after substituting the normals for 3, 4 and 5. It would be 5# more on a full scale guitar. That's about 5%. I'm guessing that won't matter much. On the other hand, sticking with all hard tension strings would almost triple the added load (12# more instead of 4#). If I've got my math right, it would be like adding another string. I'm surprised that it makes that much difference. -brian
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03 Raimundo 146 03 Almansa 435s "Senorita" 09 Silver Creek T-170 Last edited by aragorn; 10-18-2010 at 11:14 PM.
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#4
10-25-2010, 06:17 AM
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Hi,
Open D is ok but I highly recommend you try Open G Tuning (DGDGBD). I keep my Gibson C5 classical, in this dedicated Open G tuning, using high tension strings, all the time (for years). I've discovered that most classical guitars respond naturally to "the maximum sustainable quality of the tone wood", when using Open G. To play in "E", play Open G "cross tuned" capo 2. For a useful Open G Chart go here! Try it!
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Harley Gibson C5 Classical (Spruce/Brazilian): Open "D" Tuning Breedlove Retro D/SMe: Standard "E" Tuning Gibson Keb Mo Bluesmaster: Open "D" Tuning Alabama Irish Tenor Banjo (4 String): Double "C" Tuning Bart Reiter OB Banjo (5 String): Double "C" Tuning "Every Breath You Take" (Police) Solo in Open "G" Tuning  "Wild Horses" (Stones) Demo in Open "G" Tuning
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