Uncrossed Fourthmaps

[BrendaEM]

I made a chart for uncrossed fourths. The dots are arranged in a variation of a fourthmap that I have been using for a few months.

The fretboard is: 27 Fret, 8 string.

*The chart assumes the position of the player, not the audience.
The chart assumes the player will use a dampner.
The notes are aligned where fingers would go.
The highest pitch on a 34 inch scale instrument would be the same that found at the 22nd fret on a standard guitar. The tension on that string would be only one semitone higher than the same string on a strandard guitar.
Accidentals are shown as black dots to aid pianists.

Odviously, anyone can use this setup; crediting me would be kind.
Sorry about the long pictures, but to make them smaller, is to make them unusable.
I have a .svg of the map available on request.

[BrendaEM]

The lighter shade area is an uncrossed scale on a guitar.

[GaryOpenhill]

Correct me if i'm wrong but this is an inverted, whole region board type of tuning.... am i right Brenda?

Are there many ppl out there that have landed on this way of tuning their tap-tar? I've experimentet for months, and have found this the best way (for me), but I thougt i was about the only one doing it.

( but i don't tune it to fourths, so the map is useles for me :( )

[BrendaEM]

Yes, the tuning scheme is inverted or "uncrossed" meaning that the bass strings are on the bottom of the fretboard; left hand plays bass strings; the hands can pass one and another.

I hope my posts didn't seem arrogant. I didn't invent uncrossed tuning, nor did I invent fourthmap marking.

The only things I wanted to share are the ideas of adding enough frets for high-end range, a fret marker variation on the already existing fourthmap (like used on the Megatar), and starting the dots after the dampner.

If anyone is interested, I may make an uncrossed fingering guide as above.

[rpmartino]

Interesting idea... when I had an NS/Stick (8 strings in fourths) I noticed it could be difficult to play certain pieces because the hands would collide when parts were close together (like baroque keyboard music)... the uncrossed might help this. My personal preference is for crossed tunings since I like to anchor my right thumb on the side of the instrument (otherwise the hands seems to get scrunched up with crossed tunings, or your right hand has to "float").

I've since switched to a Grand Stick but still have my bass in 4ths (low string in the middle, high string on the edge), so mirrored crossed fourths is what you'd call it I suppose. The lowest note you can tap is a low E, so my bass side looks somewhat like your "reversed" fourths.

let us know how the tuning works out for you!

[BrendaEM]

While I am making my instrument, I have been using the guitar subset for a few months.

The fret markers started out as an experiment, but I like it so much, I am keeping them.

As for uncrossed: Adjust took taken time--fifths and minor thirds, but it's been working well otherwise. I can play songs more like I do on the piano. I still sneak in a crossed note here or there, like when I want the same note played fast, so I fret the note on two strings (left hand high, right hand low) giving new meaning to crossed playing, but when it comes time for the bass note to drop and the melody note to rise, my fingers can slide pass one and another, like striking a match.

[rjgoos]

The marker patterns are cool, Brenda.

Anyone ever seen them on a commercially-available brand of guitar?


Jay

[traktor]

Originally posted by rjgoos
The marker patterns are cool, Brenda.

Anyone ever seen them on a commercially-available brand of guitar?
http://www.megatar.com/english/Touchstyle/Instruments/instruments.html

Leo thanks you all.

(Actually, in the book 'Fender -- the Sound Heard Round the World.' it says that Leo purchased this fretboard somewhere, so perhaps such markers were making the rounds, once upon a time.)

[K Rex]

Thanks to Traktor for the assistance.

I've played Bass for 20 years, and Stick for 12. With the help of this forum, I traded my Stick for a Warr Phalanx (if you can imagine that) with an uncrossed tuning. This made tapping feel more natural to me, and although I lack the ability to play wide intervals more easily, my experience with tuning in fourths has helped me to compensate. I'll never go back. Not until I can afford a Megatar, anyway.

[BrendaEM]

Traktor, I remember when you showed me the pic. The pattern I am using, just adds one dot from that.

[GaryOpenhill]

Originally posted by BrendaEM


I hope my posts didn't seem arrogant. I didn't invent uncrossed tuning....



No, that was me...


(just kidding) :)