New Standard Tuning (For Guitar)

braincell · Post by **braincell** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 12:28 am

I bought a guitar today, an Ibanez Les Paul copy. I tuned it up to "New Standard Tuning" and I broke a string ouch! Then I discovered that string sets are not made for that tuning. You have to use a string calculator and buy individual bulk strings from juststrings.com. I didn't know it would be this complicated yet I love that tuning because it is based on the pentatonic scale.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Standard_Tuning

http://web.mit.edu/brobison/www/index.h ... ce/nst.htm

Mr Arkadin · Post by **Mr Arkadin** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 8:17 pm

...er, yes you need some right heavy strings for Fripp's tuning - it's not so bad on an acoustic, but is actually quite difficult to achieve on most electrics (like strings not fitting in the nut groove etc.). At the moment i'm changing strings a lot, so i think i'll need a cheap source of strings - things like Glenn Branca and Sonic Youth tunings. i love Fripp's League of Crafty Guitarists Live CD which uses that tuning.

braincell · Post by **braincell** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 12:16 am

I guess that's why the guitar craft people like that kind of guitar. I prefer the sound of his Les Paul with all the effects he uses.

braincell · Post by **braincell** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 12:45 am

The Fernandes Sustainer is another important part of Fripp's sound:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/document ... sku=300420

alfonso · Post by **alfonso** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 12:59 am

I wanted to try this tuning on an old acoustic fender (was the cheapest of the line) and I just scaled all down not to have too much tension. It sounds great.

Then I changed it to this different setup, changing the 1st-2nd string interval from a min 3rd to a 4th:

from the lower:

A#1- F2 - C3 - G3 - C4 - F4

It's more symmetric for me and almost an open tuning.

I love the basses go that down!