Alternate Tunings and Capo

Strumsticks can be placed in various alternate tunings to facilitate playing in different keys, to adapt to the range of a singer, or to play with other instruments. This should be thought of as an advanced topic; some retunings result in completely different fingerings for songs or chords, some will be the same as you are used to, just higher or lower.

These Tunings assume the normal strings on the Strumstick. For tuning beyond the range of the normal strings, as in developing your own special tunings, see: STRINGS AND TUNING CHART

For the G (Standard)Strumstick,

Standard tuning G D G' ( ' means an octave higher) Key of G
Key of A:Up a whole tone A E A' ( you may break the first string, this is it's upper limit)
Key of F: Down a whole tone F C F'
Key of E: Even lower E B E' ( strings are rather loose here)

Modified ( 5, 1, 5) tunings:

G C G' Key of C, all new fingerings
Key of D: Up a whole tone A D A' ( you may break the first string, this is it's upper limit)
Key of Bb: Down a whole tone F Bb F'
Key of A: Lower still E A E'

For the D (Grand) Strumstick,

Standard tuning D A D' ( ' means an octave higher) Key of D
Key of E : Up a whole tone E B E'
Key of C: Down a whole tone C G C'
Key of Bb: Even lower Bb F Bb' (strings are rather loose here)

Modified ( 5, 1, 5) tunings:

D G D' Key of G, all new fingerings
Key of A: Up a whole tone E A E'
Key of F: Down a whole tone C F C'
Key of E: Lower still B E B' (strings are rather loose here)

These are not all the possible tunings by any means. Tuning the 1st or third strings up or down by a whole tone, leaving the others alone, will give strange scale patterns and add notes that are out of the diatonic major scale.

Use of a Capo

A capo is a device that clamps across the strings at a given fret to raise them all by the same amount. On a chromatic (sharps and flats) instrument like Guitar, this merely raises the notes. On a diatonic instrument like the Strumstick, the scale pattern gets changed also, because of the diatonic fret spacing. Guitars capos can work on the Strumstick, although they are bulky, being meant for 6 strings. Banjo capos work great, we have one available (see Capo in the catalog accessories area). From the normal tuning, try this:1st fret (raises by a whole tone, gives minor scale) A minor scale on G Standard, Em scale on D Grand
3rd fret (raises by a fourth, gives major scale) C major scale on G Standard, Em scale on D Grand
4th fret (raises by a fifth, gives an eastern flavored minor scale) D minor scale on G Standard, Am scale on D Grand

Good luck; if you come up with something interesting, let us know!