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Alternatives to guitars
Is there another reasonably full-range stringed (not accordions or pipes) instrument that's as portable as a guitar? I count resonators as guitars, btw.
The only thing I can come up with is the Irish bouzouki, but I am sure there are others out there. I'd like to be able to break up a set with some different sounds, or just be out there doing something different. Is anyone from the forum playing something unusual out there? |
You still might need an amp but some modern day keyboards are pretty light weight especially when you get down to 60 or so keys.
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Mandocello, a large variety of banjo types, bajo sexto, large array mbira, oud, fretless guitar
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Chromatic dulcimer
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The harmonium has been edging in with the folk crowd. They are a great accompaniment instrument. The best I've seen are manufactured for, and then set up here in the States by, Old Delhi Music. They've got a great site that will teach you all you need to know about harmoniums (harmonia?). Go through the FAQ. Not strings attached, except those holding the tags and keys for the cover.
Or you could try cow bell. Bob |
I use a 10 string cittern a fair bit - much the same as the Irish bouzouki, but mine is a little larger than most, 650mm scale and I tune it CGDAD in unison pairs. It's great for accompanying folk songs, and kind of forces me out of imitating too closely other people's guitar arrangements!
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Guitars are bur one of a large family of musical instruments called "chordophones".
There are generally (not exclusively) made with tensioned strings enabling the player to play more than one note at a time (as with wind instruments). The most familiar to us is probably the mandolin family -mandolin, mandola, mando-cello etc., as they are alsofretted and played pizzicato. There is also their neighbours the violin family (no fretted) and their forbears - cittern, lute, oud etc. Actually keyboard instruments are chordophones and many guitarists will take a break and use pianos during their act. Hope that helps. |
Octave mandolin comes to mind, but not before a regular mandolin. Why? Play mandolin, show up at a jam and be unique because you can fill a frequency space different from the six guitars that showed up. Then there are all the fiddle tunes you can play. You'll get more chances to play. Not like stand up bass though.
Then all the chords can port over to octave mandolin if you like. One mandolin caveat, bring money. |
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Are you playing solo or with an ensemble, instrumental only or with vocals, and what genre[s] - big difference in terms of the sonic space you need to fill, and the type of instrument[s] you'd find most effective...
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http://www.in2guitar.com/images5/ccorgan2.jpg This is a Chicago Cottage Style 96 pump organ from around 1890 when it was purchased by my great-grandfather for his church. When the church outgrew their sanctuary and the organ they gave it back to the family. It was eventually passed to my grandparents where it became the first instrument I ever played (with). As a kid, whenever I visited them I climbed up onto the seat, opened the fall board, and pressed the keys. Once I got some sound happening I was completely mesmerized. The growly sound of the low reeds and the ability to push a few keys and get something serious going were fascinating to me. I spent hours experimenting with it, monkeying with chords and intervals, and driving my parents CRAZY. By contrast, my grandmother loved and encouraged my experiments. When my grandparents died the organ passed to my parents. This last January when we closed up shop on the family home, I brought it home. It still plays, but I've got to stake out some time and do a little work on the primary bellows. By the way, I wouldn't suggest traipsing one of these around to gigs. http://www.in2guitar.com/images2/madsmile.gif Bob |
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if there's a real need for a mediocre mando player, oh man have I got that COVERED |
Isn't this what a ukulele is for? Its like a 4 string guitar and standard tuning is like a guitar at the fifth fret. A tenor or larger doesnt sound like a toy.
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That's why I was asking for 'full range', rather than mandolin type register. I do sometimes break out a mandolin (although not in recent years) for something like copperhead road, but I always end up feeling like I can't 'go up' dynamically by bringing the bass in, in say verse two, and I always feel like I should have just used the guitar after I finish! Quote:
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Just as a visual for anyone suggesting mandolin or similar, this is the hand size I'm dealing with. I have a 9" wrist circumference and can pinch grip smooth marble slabs of 50lbs or more together and carry them where my workmates couldn't budge them singly off the floor and would need the suction tool. I feel like fiddles, mandolins and such are too delicate, although I worked hard enough at playing them in my youth that I can get by on them.
Picture is webcam snap of me with my Avalon L32 analogous in dimensions to a Lowden O model): https://i.postimg.cc/Cxzx1VdN/Me-guitar.jpg |
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I don't have a low-range voice, but another sonic variation would be a low tuned 12-string (ala folks from Leadbelly to Leo Kottke). Some have extended scale lengths, others just up their string gauges and tune down. Jumbo body sizes often seem to match this style well. I often tune my Guild JF30-12 D to D, but I'll drop lower than that--particularly back when I was exploring pieces where I didn't sing and could explore that register with impunity. Have a dislike for the octave string sound of a regular 12-string? I keep an old laminated 12-string tuned D to D in "Steve Tibbetts tuning" which pairs more courses with unison string pairs instead of octave strings. Example of how it sounds: Prolog to the Canterbury Tales |
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Thank you for such a thoughtful and helpful post. I think you're right about the baritone guitar, although my sole experience of working with one was briefly owning a budget Alvarez that never ever intonated properly regardless of tuning pitch or string gauge. The twelve string actually sounds like the answer now you've said it... tuned down and maybe minus the octave G (which was always the thing I disliked about 12's) if I can figure it out. It's less of a learning curve before I can get out and use it, too. I really do like the sound of that recording, and nice to hear that poem in a new way too. Much appreciated. |
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Picture of the cheap 12-string strung like that: Parlando Project post presenting the Prologue to the Canterbury Tales *pun intended. |
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I'd throw out good word for octave mando, too. Here's one I made from an old Kay body I carried around with me for 40 years. I bought a take off neck from a Taylor GS Mini off Reverb and used it for the conversion. I veneered the original head stock and added two extra GS Mini tuners. |
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Seriously, I'd suggest a baritone 12-string tuned A - A, with the second course strung with a wound fundamental (for tuning stability and elimination of occasionally dissonant overtones) and a plain octave - this should give you the depth you're after, while the octave second string (which tunes to first-string E in standard guitar tuning) adds sparkle and keeps things from getting muddy; as a rule they're few and far between though, and when you're lucky enough to find one they tend to be expensive, so it'd have to be something that'll see regular if not exclusive use... |
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I might see how much Avalon or similar would charge to build one for me. Much appreciated! Oh, and the Freebird thing isn't so common on this side of the pond (I have lived and played on both), instead the same type of person asks for 'Wonderwall' by Oasis, which is equally eye-rolling. I do get heckled, but usually from a distance :D |
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Slide?
If anyone above suggested slide I missed it. I find it really sounds different enough to add a nice variety to my sets.
And, as for portability, once you get used to retuning (at home!) you can use the same axe. Have a joke or story ready for the slack time…. I usually retune to or from open D about half way through a set. It is easier to tune strings up than down, and usually takes less fussing. I used to bring two but many of my gigs in Senior and healthcare places do not have a safe place for the second axe. Open D is nice and fat sounding and works great for my vocal range. Open D minor is fun too. Lap slide is another option and can be done on a standard axe, but takes a light touch to avoid fret bonk! A good reason to have the hard Jescar or SS frets. Even just moving from plectrum to fingers and different tunings can add spice to your sets. Some folks do a lot in DADGAD…. Capos and partial capos are our friends, too. Try a harmonica in a good rack… Bless you for trying to avoid boredom at the gig! |
Snorse, immediately thought mandolin or variant, banjo maybe?
Not portable easily but you are a big fella...double bass or cello is a new instrument for me...fun and different, but BIG! YouTube "Cello Brothers" |
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