Have you ever looked for an instrument that has the feel of a guitar but is compact and has a unique sound deeply rooted in traditional music? Then the tenor guitar is an instrument you need to discover.
This four-stringed guitar with a shorter neck has a rich history and is the perfect instrument to expand your musical horizon.
An Old Star Makes a Comeback
The tenor guitar had its heyday from the 1920s to the 1940s. It was originally created as a bridge for banjo players. When jazz required bands to switch from banjo to guitar, banjo players could easily switch to tenor guitar and retain their four-string playing style. The instrument was popular in early jazz and dance bands because its clear, distinct sound easily cut through the noise.
After being forgotten for many years, the instrument is now experiencing a well-deserved renaissance. Thanks to its central role in Irish, Celtic, and Nordic folk music, the tenor guitar is once again sought after by musicians looking for an authentic and powerful folk instrument.
The Perfect Transition: From Banjo to Fiddle
The tenor guitar's popularity originally came from its function as a bridge between instrument families. The instrument has four strings and is tuned in fifths, just like the four-stringed fiddle and mandolin (G-D-A-E). It also directly matches the mandola (C-G-D-A), a closely related instrument in the mandolin family, as well as the four-stringed tenor banjo.
This meant that musicians accustomed to playing fast melodies and arpeggios on the banjo, mandolin, or mandola could switch to the tenor guitar without having to learn entirely new fingerings. The instrument retains the best of these worlds: the mandolin's sound and the banjo's easy-to-play, four-string system.
Why Fifth Tuning?
What gives the tenor guitar its distinctive character is its traditional tuning. Most tenor guitars are tuned in fifths, most often C-G-D-A or G-D-A-E.
This tuning is central because:
- Folk music: Fifth tuning is ideal for playing fast melodies and reels in the folk music genre.
- Playability: The tuning often makes the instrument easier to handle, giving you as a musician a unique range and a different tonal scope than a traditional six-string guitar.
Whether you want to delve into Irish reels or accompany a Swedish polska, the tenor guitar is a versatile, four-string friend that offers a whole new set of musical possibilities.
