Just for fun I'm thinking of making a Diddley Bo. (a one string slide guitar) It looks like fun and would be inexpensive to build and if it turns out to be a disaster no big deal. Problem is I don't play guitar, so I have some questions a guitarist might be able to answer.
Just like a harmonica a one string guitar would have one key. Unlike harmonicas they are to big to carry around a bunch of these. Therefore I am thinking of making one with 2 strings tuned to two different keys. If I do that I might be able to play both stings to for a basic chord. What 2 keys do you think would be most versatile for playing blues and work together building chords? Like if you could only have 2 stings on your guitar which 2 would you choose.
I plan to use guitar strings. If I were to make one tuned to key of E, I believe I should use a E sting tuned to E in the open position. Right?
Once I know what keys and strings to use I have instructions on how to use a guitar tuner to find the and mark the octave, fifth fourth and third. one I have those I just translate what I know about playing harmonica to to playing the blues,
Look out world here comes the next Diddly Bo Hero! or not
There's no reason you couldn't play in more than 1 key--I can tune my guitar in open D for instance--my favorite for slide--and, with a capo--I can play in E flat--E--F--and even G. Of course, with slide, you do end up running out of neck on the top end a lot as you capo up.
Even without a capo--it is possible to play in other keys besides the one it is tuned to--just root on a different fret--much like moving from 1st to 2nd or 3rd positions on harp.
Real slide players almost always carry at least 3 guitars around--one in open D--one in open G--and one in standard.
If I only had two strings--I would try tuning the low E to low D and the next one to A. A lot of back-up rhythm can be gotten with these two notes--just check out Mississippi Fred McDowel on "You Got to Move." That low drone bass is on a D and A in the bass.
Of course--it would be easy to change the tuning around for different tunes, with only two strings. You would need to confer with somebody like Keni Lee Burgess on YT--he actually plays a Diddley--I'm just a guitar player who likes a little slide now and then. . .
Sounds to me like you may have Seasick Steve in mind. He's probably so famous now that I look as though I'm patronising you by posting these two YouTube videos, but here goes: -
His 3-string guitar is tuned G'-G-B (where G' is the octave below G), and G is the only key he ever plays in. He only plays his diddley-bo rarely, and there's probably a good reason for that - it would get boring if you heard it too often, so he probably only plays that in one key too. But a steel guitar string can be tuned over a wide range, so don't worry, just buy a lowish one that's really flexible.
Last Edited by on Feb 16, 2009 9:13 PM
I just bought the Seasick Steve Album "I started out with nothing and I've still got most of it left" and was very pleased to find that all of his songs are in G ....so I whipped out my trusty SP20 in C and have been giving it large in the garage playing along. For just 3 strings he gets some mighty sounds out of that guitar.
I built me a three string cigar box guitar following the instructions at teh link provided by MrVerylongusername (above). It worked well, but I have had one very important issue that is not mentioned in any of the build instructions I've read on these type sof things: you need to use a very hard wood for the neck. i used maple, and even so, it flexes when you tune it so that by the time you tune the third string, the first one is now out of tune! It's very frustrating. I'm now considering how to add on a "tension" rod to the back of the neck to counteract this... You should follow this link (http://dennishavlena.com/)and this link (http://www.geocities.com/tpe123/folkurban/) for some really great information on how to build your own intsruments.
I have built a couple of cbg's based on info I found online. I made them with used guitar necks from children's guitars and have had no problems with the necks warping. If I were to make a neck I would use Oak. It's a pain in the butt to work with but its solid. also make sure you seal the neck with a polyurethane finish to prevent the humidity from warping it.
Nice! Thanks for the links.. I have to try out a some of those. The cigar box one has some nice examples ---------- ---Go Bears!!! (Richard Dent for Hall of Fame)---
Yeah, I now know I shoulda went for something harder like oak... I didn't seal mine either, so that could aslo be an issue (thanks for the heads up!). Now, after looking at some other info online, I had the idea to use an oak pickaxe handle. You can get "replacement" tool handles at any hardware or "home inmprovement" store. Using a pick handle seems the best because you really wouldn't have to do a whole lot to it in terms of woodworking. It's already broad and square at one end (the "haft" end that you secure to the pick head), and you would just have to plane down one side of the "handle". This would be the fret side. The curve of the handle is oval in cross section, so this would be really nice on the back of the neck. Plus you are pretty much gauranteed that it won't warp from tension. If the thing is supposed to support repetitive whacking with a pick head attached, it should be able to handle a few tightened wires!
Ahhh... The projects never end. I love this stuff!
Oh man oh man oh man! That guy is GOOOOOOOOD! That's the sound I want to hear all the time. That's why I built my own CBG, and that's why I still try to play even when my sounds are more like nails on a chalkboard!
One thing though.... That guy NEEDS a harp player! ;)
