Kite Guitar: Difference between revisions

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== Tunings ==

~~Tuning~~ the Kite guitar to EADGBE causes ~~problems because~~ the ~~open strings will naturally include a wolf. The tuning can be chosen so that one~~ chord ~~shape is in tune but the guitar will then only work with that chord shape~~. For example, the usual E major chord shape 0 2 2 1 0 0 would translate ~~naturally~~ to 0 3 3 2 0 0. ~~For this to~~ be in tune, ~~DGBE are tuned to a 5-limit~~ E ~~minor seventh and A is tuned with a perfect fourth between~~ A ~~and~~ D ~~and a wolf between~~ E ~~and A. The same tuning will work with an~~ E ~~minor chord shape of~~ 0 ~~2 2~~ 0 0 0. ~~However~~, A chord shapes will ~~be out~~ of tune ~~because of the wolf~~.

Unfortunately, tuning the Kite guitar to EADGBE causes the conventional chord shapes to have wolves. For example, the usual E major chord shape 0 2 2 1 0 0 would translate to either 0 3 3 2 0 0 = E vB vE G# B E, or else 0 4 4 2 0 0 = E ^B ^E G# B E. Either way, the chord contains three wolf octaves and two wolf fifths. (In addition, the major 3rd isn't 5/4 but 81/64.) The usual Em, A, Am, D, Dm, G and C chord shapes also have wolves. The tuning can be slightly adjusted so that one of these chord shapes is in tune. For example, E ^A ^D ^G B E puts E downmajor = 0 3 3 1 0 0 in tune, as well as E upminor = 0 3 3 0 0 0. While this is an improvement, the other chord shapes still have wolves. No adjustment to EADGBE will get more than a few of the conventional chord shapes in tune. Thus learning new chord shapes is inevitable.

There are two main types of tunings. '''Isomorphic tunings''' in 3rds ~~lets you play~~ 7-limit chords and chord progressions, and ~~explore~~ the 7-limit lattice. '''Open tunings''' such as DADGAD ~~let you explore~~ the 13-limit tonality diamond.

There are two main types of tunings. '''Isomorphic tunings''' in 3rds facilitate playing 7-limit chords and chord progressions, and exploring the 7-limit lattice. '''Open tunings''' such as DADGAD facilitate exploring the 13-limit tonality diamond.

Isomorphic means "same shape", and there is only one shape to learn for any chord. The standard isomorphic tuning is the '''downmajor tuning''', in which adjacent open strings are tuned a downmajor 3rd apart. Alternative isomorphic tunings use an upminor 3rd or an upmajor 3rd. A ~~semi-isomorphic~~ tuning alternates downmajor and upminor 3rds. The drawback is that every chord has two shapes. The advantage is that the open strings make a diatonic scale.

Isomorphic means "same shape", and there is only one shape to learn for any chord. The standard isomorphic tuning is the '''downmajor tuning''', in which adjacent open strings are tuned a downmajor 3rd apart. Alternative isomorphic tunings use an upminor 3rd or an upmajor 3rd. A '''dimorphic''' ("two shapes") tuning alternates downmajor and upminor 3rds. The drawback is that every chord has two shapes. The advantage is that the open strings make a diatonic scale.

* [http://tallkite.com/misc_files/The%20Kite%20Tuning%20downmajor%20fretboard.pdf '''Fretboard chart for the downmajor tuning''']

* [http://tallkite.com/misc_files/The%20Kite%20Tuning%20upminor%20fretboard.pdf '''Fretboard chart for the upminor tuning''']

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 == Tunings ==
-Tuning the Kite guitar to EADGBE causes problems because the open strings will naturally include a wolf. The tuning can be chosen so that one chord shape is in tune but the guitar will then only work with that chord shape. For example, the usual E major chord shape 0 2 2 1 0 0 would translate naturally to 0 3 3 2 0 0.  For this to be in tune, DGBE are tuned to a 5-limit E minor seventh and A is tuned with a perfect fourth between A and D and a wolf between E and A.  The same tuning will work with an E minor chord shape of 0 2 2 0 0 0.  However, A chord shapes will be out of tune because of the wolf.
+Unfortunately, tuning the Kite guitar to EADGBE causes the conventional chord shapes to have wolves. For example, the usual E major chord shape 0 2 2 1 0 0 would translate to either 0 3 3 2 0 0 = E vB vE G# B E, or else 0 4 4 2 0 0 = E ^B ^E G# B E. Either way, the chord contains three wolf octaves and two wolf fifths. (In addition, the major 3rd isn't 5/4 but 81/64.) The usual Em, A, Am, D, Dm, G and C chord shapes also have wolves. The tuning can be slightly adjusted so that one of these chord shapes is in tune. For example, E ^A ^D ^G B E puts E downmajor = 0 3 3 1 0 0 in tune, as well as E upminor = 0 3 3 0 0 0.  While this is an improvement, the other chord shapes still have wolves. No adjustment to EADGBE will get more than a few of the conventional chord shapes in tune. Thus learning new chord shapes is inevitable.
-There are two main types of tunings. '''Isomorphic tunings''' in 3rds lets you play 7-limit chords and chord progressions, and explore the 7-limit lattice. '''Open tunings''' such as DADGAD let you explore the 13-limit tonality diamond.
+There are two main types of tunings. '''Isomorphic tunings''' in 3rds facilitate playing 7-limit chords and chord progressions, and exploring the 7-limit lattice. '''Open tunings''' such as DADGAD facilitate exploring the 13-limit tonality diamond.
-Isomorphic means "same shape", and there is only one shape to learn for any chord. The standard isomorphic tuning is the '''downmajor tuning''', in which adjacent open strings are tuned a downmajor 3rd apart. Alternative isomorphic tunings use an upminor 3rd or an upmajor 3rd. A semi-isomorphic tuning alternates downmajor and upminor 3rds. The drawback is that every chord has two shapes. The advantage is that the open strings make a diatonic scale.
+Isomorphic means "same shape", and there is only one shape to learn for any chord. The standard isomorphic tuning is the '''downmajor tuning''', in which adjacent open strings are tuned a downmajor 3rd apart. Alternative isomorphic tunings use an upminor 3rd or an upmajor 3rd. A '''dimorphic''' ("two shapes") tuning alternates downmajor and upminor 3rds. The drawback is that every chord has two shapes. The advantage is that the open strings make a diatonic scale.
 * [http://tallkite.com/misc_files/The%20Kite%20Tuning%20downmajor%20fretboard.pdf '''Fretboard chart for the downmajor tuning''']
 * [http://tallkite.com/misc_files/The%20Kite%20Tuning%20upminor%20fretboard.pdf '''Fretboard chart for the upminor tuning''']