Changing tunings

 

Tuning changes are afoot.  In the past two weeks, I've changed tunings on the:

Additionally, I'm working on a new contra tuning for the contra side of the 30-string Contra-Alto guitar.   

Each tuning is like a different planet in its own galaxy.  Intervalic tunings produce harmonic possibilities that, to me, look/feel/sound like the NASA photo at the top of this blog post.

The life of a tuning is an interesting thing.  Some tunings can last for years; while others may be utilized only for a recording session.  The reasons for changing tunings can be that a change is required for s specific recording project.  Or, it can be that a years-old tuning is getting refined; such is the case with the changed tuning on the 36. 

The 26 is new, and I've outlined its current tuning changes in this blog post.  

The 30-string Double Contraguitar contains six triple-courses.  I changed the tuning of one of the triple courses this week, which may sound like a minor change.  It is actually a pretty major change, as devising triple-course intervalic tunings is an arduous process.  The change involved in one triple course has a kind of ripple effect that impacts the other triple courses, and in this case, changes the entire feel and color of the overall tuning.

The 18-string Contra was moved from an all-octave tuning back into a hybrid tuning.  This hybrid tuning comprises four intervalic courses, and five octave courses.  It's a tuning I devised back in late 2024, and I've returned to it as it's amazingly special to me.  Additionally, the hybrid tuning speaks incredibly well on this instrument.  It's my only instrument in a hybrid tuning.

Part of the reason for all the near-simultaneous tuning changes may be related to some upcoming recording projects.  Or, it could be that this is the lifecycle of intervalic tunings: that they are constantly evolving.  

Perhaps both.

More to come.

-kk

 

 

 

 

 

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