June 12, 2009

Review-Tenor Left Handed Electric Guitars, Guitar With A Difference

Tenor left-handed guitar photo

The original tenor guitars were a smaller version of a steel-string guitar, developed so that people who played the tenor banjo with four strings could double on the guitar. It was later that the solid body tenor left handed electric guitars came along.

Pricing:

Tenor electric guitars are still available in original vintage models dating back to the 1920’s. You can find some of the vintage tenor electric guitars from $1200 on up to $8,000. You can buy new tenor left handed electric guitars for the bottom part of the range, making them a good deal compared to some of the vintage models.

Tuning:

The tuning of tenor left handed electric guitars is identical to a four sting tenor banjo. The strings are tuned to C-G-D-A, typically. This tuning pattern is so that six string guitar players don’t have to re-learn scales and chords, so many guitar enthusiasts choose the tenor electric guitar for this reason as an alternative instrument.

Because they are tuned in fifths, you can also tune them to G-D-A and E, which is especially helpful when playing Irish music and playing with fiddles, mandolins and other instruments tuned this way. It is also popular in contemporary fold, pop and other Celtic or ethnic style music, as well. Others opt for tuning them similar to an electric ukulele using D-G-B-E, although the sound may be too bright for some.

History to Current Usage:

The tenor guitar dates back to the late 1920’s as an alternative to the four stringed tenor banjo. Original versions were shaped like a lute, and the very first production instruments were acoustic tenor guitars that were true wood-bodied made by Martin and Gibson. Throughout the years, almost all guitar makers came out with tenor models including resonator tenor guitar models by Dobro.

Current Uses:

Elvis Costello played a tenor electric guitar in the title track, Delivery Man, of his release in 2004. The only other modern player known for going with tenor guitars is rocker Lynda Kay of Lonesome Spurs. They can be hard to find, but are manufactured in America. Considered a musical oddity in previous years, they are beginning to be quite popular to guitar players and collectors. Now, you can find tenor left handed electric guitars, to fill this specialty market.

When it comes to looking for left handed guitars, including the tenor left handed electric guitar, www.LeftHandedGuitarMall.com is a recommended hub website for any music lovers looking to purchase music equipment or just seeking information on left hand instruments.

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