I’m wondering if there’s a small guitar (3/4), 21-22" scale, which can be tuned DADGAD and be in tune correctly?
I was looking into Terz sized guitars recently, but im afraid the Terz tuning they are intended to isn’t going to be good if I downtune it to DADGAD.
Thanks for all help 
It’s easier to change string guages than guitars.
Before I start changing strings, I need to know something more fundamental.
Someone who designs a Terz guitar, doesn’t expect it to be tuned to DADGAD, therefor I assume that there will be some kind of tunning issues (like the low D string).
All the 12-fret guitars I see on the internet have a normal neck (too long for me), while I’m looking for a 3/4 guitar 12-fret, which landed me on a Terz one. So if I buy that guitar, and downtune it to my favourite tuning DADGAD, will it depend only on the gauge if I have tuning issues?
A string tension calculator will tell you how much tension the present strings exert. enter the scale length and present tuning and it’ll tell you how force the strings exert when tuned to pitch. If you keep the scale length and change the tuning to dadgad, it’s easy to look for string guages that exert the same force on the neck.
Bear in mind that some scale (short) lengths are just to short for a good bass string sound, unless you’re fond of the rubber band effect.
Is there any particular reason why you can’t play a normal size guitar?
Here’s another idea. Since a terz guitar is tuned a minor 3rd higher (3 half steps) than standard tuning … Just take a normal guitar and have a luthier set it up for a set of heavy gauge strings. Then tune it down m3 and capo at the 3rd fret. Voilà! You now have a short scale neck in standard tuning. And you have many more guitars to choose from.
The lowered standard tuning would be: C# F# B E G# C#
Simon thanks, I’ll look into that. I’m not fond of bassy sound in a guitar - as weird as it may seem.
MTGuru, I can’t have a capo all the time Actually I prefer to play without a capo, it’s always in the way somehow.
chrisoff, I don’t know what to say, I practiced DADGAD on a smaller guitar - which made me flatpicking melody+chord using this tuning (which everyone would say not good for melodies) - but I manage to make it work… I’d love to develop my hands further, but when I tried a regular sized guitar, it’s just very hard to reach those frets when playing a melody on the DADGAD.
Maybe I should order a custom made guitar and that’s it…
In that case I think you should man up and get a full size guitar, your fingers will develop with time and patience. There’s such a broad range of neck widths and scale lengths that you should be able to find one you can work with and you’ll have a much greater choice and budget to choose from.
Fender even used to do acoustics with strat/tele style necks for people who wanted an acoustic sound but the playability of an electric.
At the very least go into a shop and try some out.
I’m with Chris. I used to teach guitar lessons to 12 year olds, and don’t recall that they had any problems handling a standard scale neck (25.4 inches). Guitar body size was more of an issue, and OO or O size was comfortable for them if a dreadnought body was too big.
Those Fender acoustic necks are normal scale, but much narrower. And neck width is usually a bigger problem for small hands than the scale length.
Especially for lowered tunings like DADGAD and Dropped-D, a short scale just exacerbates the problem of finding string gauges that sound good, have the right tension, and aren’t overly thick. At some point, you can’t cheat the laws of acoustic physics, and a longer scale will always sound and feel better.
As with many instruments, finger stretch and flexibility is something that develops with time and practice. So a small guitar that seems good when you first start may seem overly restrictive after a few months of playing.
As for capos … A capo isn’t in the way if it’s properly positioned - especially a low profile capo that doesn’t extend beyond the high side of the fingerboard (Shubb, Kyser, etc.) For DADGAD or Dropped-D in ITM backup, using a capo effectively is sometimes essential for the right voicing in many keys, and is part of the skill.
Some guitarists routinely tune down a half step with heavier strings, and capo at the 1st fret. This emulates the “zero fret” design that some people feel gives better action (string height) and intonation.
Trip, have you considered the possibility of playing an octave mandolin? It’s in the right scale range for you, and you could tune it GDAD or ADAD and play bouzouki-style accompaniment.
MTGuru, i’ve been practicing on my small guitar for 1.5 years now - and I simply love it - I enjoy finding a way to play a tune, flatpicking of course, and maintaining chord playing along with it. When I pick up my friend’s guitar, which is some model of Martin (I don’t remember which but it’s not a dreadnought), it’s considered to be a small guitar - in body size, but then I start playing melodies that I usually play - they are just so far a stretch, I end up with a sore left hand and an unhappy playing experience. (2.5 years ago I’ve given a few lessons about DADGAD accompaniment, correct strumming moves, rythm keeping etc, I never played in regular tuning)
I’d like to imagine as if I have the hands of a 12 year old student of yours - now I want to play on the regular size guitar, a tune which is strictly forbidden in our sessions long while ago, but for a student like me I’m allowed to play it on the guitar at home alone Kesh Jig part A. It starts with a G chord, on to the D chord, on to C and back to D - in its basic form. What happens in chord C with the melody, I’m supposed to put my fingers on a C chord + playing that high g note with my pinky(|edd gdd|) - for me, doing this on a regular sized guitar is maybe even more than just a stretch.
f- represents finger:
6| . | . | . | . | . ||
5| . | . | f | . | . ||
4| . | . | . | f | . ||
3| . | . | . | . | . ||
2| . | . | f | . | . ||
1| f | . | . | . | . ||
But this g is there only for a quick play, I need to move from/to e note. For that I ‘mute’ the 4th string and use 3 fingers, without pinky. Jumping positions with wide frets is hard for me.
I realize that what I’ve told you now may be considered very regular or basic playing, but I’m happy to share my difficulties…
Thomaston, haven’t even considered But I am perfectly aware of those instruments.
Trip, I think you need to follow your own star, and balance what you’re used to against the possibility of pushing your own personal envelope. And I hope you find an instrument that will make you happy!
FWIW, it’s hard for me to think of chord voicings as mechanically as you describe. There are so many possibilities, and if one voicing is awkward, there’s always another that beckons with its own flavor and texture, that allows your fingers to flow and dance.
Have you tried a 24" scale guitar? I know it doesn’t sound that small but the difference from standard scale length is significant. Larrivee parlors are 24". The are awesome for small guitars and sound fantastic tuned in DADGAD.
Alternately you might try going to a music store that has little Martins, they are 23" scale and are relatively easy to find in stores. That way you could try the guitar tuned to DADGAD before buying. The Larrivee parlor is 10 times the guitar though, if you can handle the extra expense and the additional one inch in scale length.
Loren
MTGuru thanks for the kind words…
Loren thank you for your advice, I’ll take it
That’s a nice price on the little Martins.
http://elderly.com/new_instruments/items/LX1.htm
I just ran across this while researching tenor guitars and it made me think of this thread.