John McLaughlin and Indian tuning ...

[gilwe]

I'm trying to get John Mclaughlin's guitar tuning during the "Shati" recording ... Does anybody knows how he tuned his guitar ? was it what is called "raga" or "raga tuning " ? I'm a little confused on this - is "raga" a type of tuning anyway ? and how did he actually tuned the custom crossing 6 strings on his custom guitar (appears at the cover of few of Shakti's albums ...)

Thanks !

 

[Sangram]

I'm not sure of what he used for Shakti but I can tell you there's no 'raga' tuning as such. Not that I know of, at least.

The Indian Classical guitar is tuned in fifths, I think, and the 6 extra treble strings (also up to 20 strings sometimes) are also tuned in fifths. Again I haven't seen the guitar you're referring to so can't comment.

There are certain Indian scales which are so-called 'raga' scales but they're simplistic, IMO. AFAIK they use an augmented fourth with the major scale, or sometimes are variations of seventh and ninths. There are about a few hundred Indian scales.

Ever hear of Scaleopiea? search for it on Google and if u don't find it lemme know and I'll zip and mail you the site.

 

[gilwe]

thanks for the info,

The guitar is pictured here
and here

hey' now I see the fretboard is designed to act like a sitar's one (thick frets, "scalloped" fretboard)

and... I also find what seem to be the answer right here


quoted from the link -
"While most western string instruments are tuned in a way, which follows the tempered system, they do not give a very harmonious sound when all strings are struck openly. Indian string instruments, on the other hand, which are generally tuned in 5ths or 4ths, create a pleasant, harmonious sound when struck openly. "

does 5th mean CGDAEB .... etc? or does it mean that a lower string is tuned to the 5th fret of the upper string (like EADG) ?

 

[gilwe]

another quote about that guitar -

the Shakti guitar features a scalloped fretboard: the wood is carved out in between the frets so that the fingertips touch only the strings, not the fretboard, and the strings can be pushed down or pulled across the frets. In addition to its regular, standard-tuned six strings, the guitar has seven sympathetic drone strings that cross the soundhole at a dramatic angle.

 

[Sangram]

does 5th mean CGDAEB .... etc? or does it mean that a lower string is tuned to the 5th fret of the upper string (like EADG) ?

Fifths would be CGDAEB etc. Also the frets are spaced differently in Sitar, AFAIK.

OK the guitar is custom built as far as I can see. Not sure of how those seven strings are tuned but I would imagine they're tuned for sympathetic vibration with the six main strings. I was referring to an Indian Classical guitar, which doesn't look anything like that one. No pictures on the 'net of that animal, unfortunately, so can't show it to you but the principle is similar, except for the fact that the sympatico strings are actually played during a performance.

 

[kartikbala]

Ragas refer to the scale. The scales in Indian ragas can have anywhere from 4-7 notes.

The 6 strings that run across are known as sympathetic strings, and the tuning for that can be either in octaves or even in the scale of that particular raga. When the main strings are played, these sympathetic strings will also vibrate and generate the pleasing overtones that can be heard.

Also another characteristic is the pulling and bending of strings which give the so-called 'glissando' feel.

Cheers!
KB