All fifths tuning
Among guitar tunings, all-fifths tuning refers to the set of tunings in which each interval between consecutive open strings is a perfect fifth. All-fifths tuning is also called fifths, perfect fifths, or mandoguitar.[1] The conventional "standard tuning" consists of perfect fourths and a single major third between the g and b strings:
- E-A-d-g-b-e'
All fifths | |
---|---|
The consecutive open-notes of all-fifths tuning are each spaced seven semitones apart on the chromatic circle. | |
Basic information | |
Aliases | Perfect-fifths tuning |
Interval | Perfect fifth |
Semitones | 7 |
Example(s) | C-G-d-a-e'-b' or G'-D-A-e-b-f♯' |
Advanced information | |
Other instruments | violin, cello, mandolin, tenor banjo |
Repetition | No |
Advantages | Wide range; natural for concert stringed-instrument music |
Disadvantages | Difficult to play standard-guitar music |
Left-handed tuning | All-fourths tuning |
Associated musician | |
Guitarist | Carl Kress |
Carl Kress played jazz with all-fifths tuning. | |
Regular tunings (semitones) | |
Trivial (0) | |
Minor thirds (3) | |
Major thirds (4) | |
All fourths (5) | |
Augmented fourths (6) | |
New standard (7, 3) | |
All fifths (7) | |
Minor sixths (8) | |
Guitar tunings |
All-fifths tuning has the set of open strings
- C-G-d-a-e'-b' or G'-D-A-e-b-f♯',
which have intervals of 3 octaves minus a half-step between the lowest and highest string. The conventional tuning has an interval of 2 octaves between lowest and highest string.
All-fifths tuning is a tuning in intervals of perfect fifths like that of a mandolin or a violin. It has a wide range. It was used by jazz guitarist Carl Kress in the form
- B♭'-F-c-g-d'-a'.[2]
An approximation: New standard tuning
All-fifths tuning has been approximated with tunings that avoid the high b' replacing it with a g' in the New Standard Tuning of King Crimson's Robert Fripp, which has been taught in Guitar Craft courses.[3][4] Guitar Craft, which has been succeeded by Guitar Circle, has taught Fripp's tuning to 3,000 students.[5]
Relation with all-fourths tuning
All-fifths tuning is closely related to all-fourths tuning. All-fifths tuning is based on the perfect fifth (the interval with seven semitones), and all-fourths tuning is based on the perfect fourth (five semitones). The perfect-fifth and perfect-fourth intervals are inversions of one another, and the chords of all-fourth and all-fifths are paired as inverted chords. Consequently, chord charts for all-fourths tunings may be used for left-handed all-fifths tuning.[6]
See also
Notes
- Sethares (2001, "The mandoguitar tuning" 62–63): Sethares, Bill (2001). "Regular tunings". Alternate tuning guide (pdf). Madison, Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin; Department of Electrical Engineering. pp. 52–67. 2010 Alternate tuning guide, including a revised chapter on regular tunings. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
- Page 92. Richard Lieberson, "Swing guitar: The acoustic chordal style", pages 89-112. The Guitar in Jazz: An Anthology, Edited by James Sallis. 1996. 978-0-8032-4250-0
- Tamm, Eric (2003) [1990], Robert Fripp: From crimson king to crafty master (Progressive Ears ed.), Faber and Faber (1990), ISBN 0-571-16289-4, Zipped Microsoft Word Document, archived from the original on 26 October 2011, retrieved 25 March 2012
- Zwerdling, Daniel (5 September 1998). "California Guitar Trio". All Things Considered (NPR Weekend ed.). Washington DC: National Public Radio. Retrieved 25 March 2012..
- Fripp (2011, p. 3): Fripp, Robert (2011). Pozzo, Horacio (ed.). Seven Guitar Craft themes: Definitive scores for guitar ensemble. "Original transcriptions by Curt Golden", "Layout scores and tablatures: Ariel Rzezak and Theo Morresi" (First limited ed.). Partitas Music. ISMN 979-0-9016791-7-7. DGM Sku partitas001.
- Sethares (2001, p. 53)
References
- Sethares, William A. (2011). "Alternate tuning guide". Madison, Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin; Department of Electrical Engineering. 2010 PDF version by Bill Sethares. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
Further reading
- Denyer, Ralph (1992). "Playing the guitar: Alternative tunings". The guitar handbook. Special contributors Isaac Guillory and Alastair M. Crawford (Fully revised and updated ed.). London and Sydney: Pan Books. pp. 158–159. ISBN 0-330-32750-X.