Hi Ezra,

On my 36" Grand I tune my mid guage strings at MR but one half-step up. For me, deciding on tuning is all about balancing the three aspects string tension, string thickness, and resonation between the strings and the wood in the Stick.

Thank you, Per; interesting.

-e.

Matched Reciprocal (see my sig) because that's what it was when I bought it. Strings are exensive so I can't easily afford to change to another tuning casually but, looking over Free Hands, I think I'll try Classic 12 next time I buy strings.

This is mainly because there are several advantages in cross-side voicings (see some of the listed chord voicings in Lesson 12 for instance) and, on watching some videos of Emmett playing recently I was struck by how often he seemed to play across the gap. It brought some of the decisions of the classic tuning deign into focus.

Pardon my ignorance (I haven't even got my Stick yet, so no books yet either), but may I ask 'Lesson 12" of what?

Sorry -- 'Free Hands', Emmett's original stick instruction book (hopefully you have one included in your Railboard order). Rather than chapters it's divided into 18 Lessons and I literally picked my copy off the desk and opened it to the first page with a 2-side chord diagram.

It's a terrific, indeed the best, stick book (sorry to Greg and Steve, whose books I also have).

Nice to see yet another scottish stickist, incidentally!

Thank you. That was my guess, but I prefer not to assume.
Yes, a copy is included in my order.


I find that with any 'book learning' there's nearly always advantage in having a range of books. I try not to 'butterfly' between courses, but when questions arise the answer can often be deduced by comparing & contrasting different descriptions & approaches.


Thank you. I look forward to the day when I can actually be one.

I'm not Scottish, but long ago I bought my first decent electric guitar in Edinborough.

But also consider that Emmett's ideas developed over time & he migrated to & recommended RMR.

Here's something greg wrote a few days ago in the 'The Future' topic (albeit with a 10 string in mind?):

Yes, me too. I often muse on the fact that there are three stickists in/near Edinburgh or, if you include me, two.

It's impossible to be sure, but that may well be two (or three) more than in the Highland & Islands, unless you know different?