New standard tuning
New standard | |
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Trivial (0) | |
Minor thirds (3) | |
Major thirds (4) | |
All fourths (5) | |
Augmented fourths (6) | |
New standard (7, 3) | |
All fifths (7) | |
Minor sixths (8) | |
Guitar tunings |
New standard tuning (NST) is an
All-fifths tuning is typically used for mandolins, cellos, violas, and violins. On a guitar, tuning the strings in fifths would mean the first string would be a high B. NST provides a good approximation to all-fifths tuning. Like other regular tunings, NST allows chord fingerings to be shifted from one set of strings to another.
NST's C-G range is wider, both lower and higher, than the E-E range of
NST was developed by Robert Fripp, the guitarist for King Crimson. Fripp taught the new standard tuning in Guitar Craft courses beginning in 1985, and thousands of Guitar Craft students continue to use the tuning. Like other alternative tunings for guitar, NST provides challenges and new opportunities to guitarists, who have developed music especially suited to NST.
NST places the guitar strings under greater tension than standard tuning. Standard sets of guitar strings do not work well with the tuning as the lowest strings are too loose and the highest string may snap under the increased tension. Special sets of NST strings have been available for decades, and some guitarists assemble NST sets from individual strings.[1]
History
New standard tuning (NST) was invented by Robert Fripp of the band King Crimson in September 1983.[2][3]
"I was in the Apple Health Spa on Bleecker and Thompson back in September 1983, in the sauna at half past 10 in the morning, almost asleep, and the tuning flew over my head. At the time I couldn’t understand what it was for. I was asked to give a guitar seminar at Claymont Court in December 1984, to raise funds for the running of the estate and the children’s school. There was a click and I realized the tuning was for the guitar class."[4]
Fripp began using the tuning in 1985 before beginning his Guitar Craft seminars,[5][6] which have taught the tuning to three thousand guitarists.[7]
String (right-handed) | Note | Frequency (hertz) |
---|---|---|
1 | g' | 392.00 |
2 | e' | 329.63 |
3 | a | 220.00 |
4 | d | 146.83 |
5 | G | 98.66 |
6 | C | 65.41 |
The tuning is (from low to high): C2-G2-D3-A3-E4-G4. The original version of NST was
Properties
The lowest five strings are tuned in perfect fifths from a low C. The first string is a minor third up from the E to a G. Since the lowest five strings are tuned in fifths, guitars with NST can be played with the fingerings for chords and scales used on the violin, cello, and mandolin.[12]
The first five strings of NST have
The distinct
Harmonics: Overtones
"With a note of music, one strikes the fundamental, and, in addition to the root note, other notes are generated: these are the harmonic series.... As one fundamental note contains within it other notes in the octave, two fundamentals produce a remarkable array of harmonics, and the number of possible combinations between all the notes increases phenomenally. With a triad, affairs stand a good chance of getting severely out of hand."
— Robert Fripp, Denyer (1992, p. 114)
New standard tuning lists four notes (C,G,E,G) from the harmonic sequence (overtones) for the note C.[15] When the low open-note C-string is struck, its harmonic sequence begins with the notes
- (C,C,G,C,E,G,B♭,C).[16]
To strengthen a given chord, Vincent Persichetti's Twentieth-century harmony recommends adding perfect fifths above the initial overtones, rather than adding higher overtones, such as B♭ and the higher C.[16][17] Persichetti's book influenced Fripp.[18] In new standard tuning
- C is the fundamental overtone,
- G as a fifth reinforces C,
- D as a fifth reinforces G,
- A as a fifth reinforces D,
- E both as a fifth reinforces A and as the fifth overtone reinforces C, and
- G as the sixth overtone reinforces C.
Range
Like all-fifths tuning,[12] NST has a greater range than the standard tuning, a perfect fifth greater (a major third lower and a minor third higher).
Chords: Perfect intervals rather than thirds
Asked whether NST facilitates "new intervals or harmonies that aren't readily available in standard tuning", Fripp responded, "Yes, that's part of it. It's more effective. It's a more rational system, but it's also better sounding—better for chords, better for single notes." To build chords, Fripp uses "perfect intervals in fourths, fifths and octaves", so avoiding minor and major thirds.[2][19] Quartal and quintal harmony was stressed from the beginning of Fripp's teaching of Guitar Craft. Fripp began a 1986 course with these directions: "Now, pick a note from the following series—[it was a series of fourths or fifths]. When you are ready—do not be in any hurry, but when you are ready play your note, then pick others and play them as the situation demands it. Your first note will be the first intentional note you have played in a week."[20]
It is a challenge to adapt conventional guitar chords to new standard tuning.[20] NST has wider intervals between consecutive strings than standard tuning.[12]
"Most songs (that is music which has both words and instrumental accompaniments) written in the [NST] have a quality of walking on long stilts. There are rarely many intervals, harmonic or melodic, in these guitar accompaniments that are closer than a major third except in the top of the voicing. Close voicings (from a single guitar) in [NST] are possible thanks to the minor third between the first and second string, and this is often the only practical place where close voicings occur with any regularity".[15]
Historical background
Modern quartal and quintal harmony revives the polyphonic traditions of medieval Europe. Before the
String gauges
With traditional guitar strings, the low C may be loose and the high G may be too tight. Special
G 1 | E 2 | A 3 | D 4 | G 5 | C 6 | Distributor |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0.011 | 0.013 | 0.023 | 0.032 | 0.046 | 0.056 | Guitar Craft Services[20] (Unavailable in 2012) |
0.012 | 0.015 | 0.023 | 0.032 | 0.046 | 0.060 | Guitar Craft Services[20] (Unavailable in 2012) |
0.011 | 0.013 | 0.022 | 0.032 | 0.047 | 0.058 | John Pearse Strings, manufacturer[23][24] |
0.011 | 0.013 | 0.022 | 0.032 | 0.047 | 0.059 | D'Addario, manufacturer[22][24] (available at Guitar-Circle courses)[24] |
0.010 | 0.052 (light) | Newtone Strings[25] |
In 2012, a 0.007 inch gauge was being evaluated by Fripp and other members of Guitar Circle, who are considering replacing the first string's G note with an A note, the better to approximate the B note of
G 1 | E 2 | A 3 | D 4 | G 5 | C 6 | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0.010 | 0.012 | 0.016 | 0.024 | 0.038 | 0.052 | Robert Fripp[27][28] |
0.008 | 0.012 | 0.015 | 0.026 | 0.042 | 0.052 | Curt Golden[24] |
0.0085 | 0.010 | 0.015 | 0.024 | 0.038 | 0.056 | Fabio Mittino[29] |
Artists who use NST
Robert Fripp has used the New Standard Tuning since 1984.
Fripp has taught NST in his
The tuning is used by students of Guitar Craft, of which there have been three thousand. Guitar-Craft alumni who continue to practice NST are called "crafty guitarists" or "crafties".
See also
Notes
- ^ Brian Robinson, composer
- ^ a b Mulhern (1986)
- ^ Tamm (2003, p. 148)
- ^ Pareles, Jon (19 September 2022). "Robert Fripp Lightens Up". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
- ^ a b Baldwin, Douglas (November 2007). "Guitar Heroes: How to Play Like 26 Guitar Gods from Atkins to Zappa", edited by Jude Gold and Matt Blackett, Guitar Player, p.111.
- ^ a b Fripp, Robert. "Robert Fripp's diary: Friday, 5th February 2010". Discipline Global Mobile, DGM Live. Archived from the original on 25 February 2010.
- ^ a b Fripp (2011, p. 3)
- ^ a b c Fripp, Robert. "Robert Fripp's diary: Sunday, 22nd April 2012". Discipline Global Mobile, DGM Live. Archived from the original on 11 November 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
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(help) - ^ a b Fripp, Robert. "Robert Fripp's diary: Friday, 2nd March 2012". Discipline Global Mobile, DGM Live. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
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(help) - ^ Octave4Plus of Gary Goodman
- ^ Fripp, Robert. "Robert Fripp's diary: Monday, 4th January 2010". Discipline Global Mobile, DGM Live. Archived from the original on 21 March 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
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: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - ^ a b c Sethares (2001, "The mandoguitar tuning", pp. 62–63)
- ^ Sethares (2001, Regular tunings, p. 52)
- ^ Tamm (2003, "Chapter nine: King Crimson IV and Andy Summers")
- ^ AllMusic. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
- ^ a b Persichetti (1961, pp. 23–24)
- ^ Fripp, Robert. "Robert Fripp's diary:Sunday, 11th March 2001". Discipline Global Mobile, DGM Live.
{{cite journal}}
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(help) - ^ Tamm (2003, Chapter Two: The guitarist and the practice of music)
- ^ Major thirds and minor thirds are implemented poorly in equal temperament tuning (in comparison to thirds in just intonation).
Gold, Jude (1 December 2005). "Just desserts: Steve Kimock shares the sweet sounds of justly tuned thirds and sevenths". Guitar Player. Master class. - ^ a b c d Musicologist Eric Tamm wrote that despite "considerable effort and search I just could not find a good set of chords whose sound I liked" for rhythm guitar. (Tamm 2003, Chapter 10: Postscript)
- ^ Persichetti (1961, "Chapter Four: Chords by fourths", p. 93)
- ^ a b Barry (2004)
- ^ Pearse, John. "Six and twelve string acoustic guitar". jpstrings.com. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
- ^ a b c d Golden, Curt (30 September 2008). "Tunings". Curt Golden—Guitar Instruction. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
- ^ Fripp, Robert (18 October 2012). "Robert Fripp's diary: October 18th, 2012". Discipline Global Mobile, DGM Live!. Archived from the original on 24 June 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
- ^ Fripp, Robert (2 August 2012). "Robert Fripp's diary: Thursday, 2nd August 2012". Discipline Global Mobile, DGM Live!. Archived from the original on 24 June 2015. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
- ^ a b Fripp, Robert (18 March 2003). "Robert Fripp's diary: Tuesday, 18th March 2003". Discipline Global Mobile, DGM Live!. Archived from the original on 24 June 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
- ^ The scale of Fripp's guitar is 628 millimetres (24.7 in).
Crowe, Ben. "Custom guitars from Crimson Guitars UK currently in stock". Crimson Guitars. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
- ^ <this string gauge provide almost the same tension for each string (G 7.23kg, E 7.07kg, A 7.08kg, D 6.88kg, G 7.47kg, C 7.24kg on D'Addario Strings). Fabio Mittino is a crafty who plays with Bert Lams from California Guitar Trio
- ^ Tamm (2003, pp. 134, 142, 148 (Chapter 10), c.f. pp. 160, 4)
- ^ Tamm (2003, Chapter 11)
- ^ Zwerdling (1998)
- ^ Cleveland, Barry (1 October 2005). "Electric Gauchos' transcontinental alt-prog". Guitar Player. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
- ^ Anonymous, Yakima Herald-Republic (2000). "Guitar performance slated for Unity Church (Body and soul: What's happening)". Yakima Herald-Republic. Archived from the original on 25 February 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
- ^ Upchurch, Michael (6 October 2010). "Guitarists put listeners in the circle". The Seattle Times. Your Wednesday. Seattle, Washington. Archived from the original on 22 February 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
- ^ "Alejandro Miniaci Guitar Loops - Bio".
- ^ Cleveland (2004a)
- AllMusic. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
- ^ a b Prasad, Anil (1 October 2007). "Markus Reuter". Guitar Player. RIFFS: Outsider. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
- ^ Bender, Frank (25 April 2009). "Heikki Malmberg—Exclusive OnlineDrummer.com Interview". OnlineDrummer.com. Archived from the original on 10 November 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
References
- Cleveland, Barry (1 August 2004a). "The Plague of Crafty Guitarists: Volume one". Guitar Player. Archived from the original on 22 February 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
- Cleveland, Barry (1 December 2004). "California Guitar Trio (Interview)" (PDF). Frets Magazine (Fall). Guitar Player (subscription required). Retrieved 25 March 2012.
- Skupartitas001.
- Mulhern, Tom (January 1986). "On the discipline of craft and art: An interview with Robert Fripp". Guitar Player. 20: 88–103. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
- OCLC 398434.
- Sethares, William A. (2011). "Alternate tuning guide". Madison, Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin; Department of Electrical Engineering. 2010 PDF version by Bill Sethares. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
- on 26 October 2011, retrieved 25 March 2012
- National Public Radio. Html transcription (subscription required). Audio recording (free). Archived from the originalon 10 October 2014. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
Further reading
- Drozdowski, Ted (February 1989). "Robert Fripp: A plectral purist answers the dumb questions". Musician: 28+. Referenced in Tamm (2003).
External links
- Courses in New Standard Tuning are offered by Guitar Circle, the successor of Guitar Craft:
- The FraKctured Zone is a King Crimson fan website with notation and tabs to songs in NST (with acknowledgment to Trey Gunn for permission).
- Wolfowitz, Kiefer (2013). "Harmonization of diatonic major scale on C; Progressions of chords: Triads and sevenths". New Standard Tuning C-G-D-A-E-G of Robert Fripp's Guitar Craft (PDF). Wikimedia Foundation. Retrieved 8 November 2013.