Hi

[ericcoleman]

I've been very quiet lately. Being happy will do that to you I suppose.

Lizzie and I are doing wonderfully. There is much laughter and music in our house.

On that, I have a new toy. I bought a bouzouki! Most of the new songs have been written on it, most I could play on guitar, but they wouldn't sound the same. Add the Cuatro and it will be Eric's Odd Instruments onstage at Duckon.

So, how is life with you? Does anyone read this anymore?

Comments

[lemmozine.livejournal.com]

Here is some more information. Apparently what defines the instruments, according to this, is the scale length. I'm not 100% sure I agree with that.

http://www.ceolas.org/instruments/cittern.html

It's sort of like, a banjo is a banjo, right? Except that there are 3 different types of 4 string banjo that are common (banjo-uke, tenor and plectrum) all with different tunings and scales, there are 2 different types of 5-string banjo (the standard and the Pete Seeger style long-neck), the 6 string guitar banjo, the 8-string banjo-mandolin which can also be strung with 2 sets of ukulele strings and played as a taropach, and a 12-string fretless banjo common in Turkey called a cumbus.

When I got my cittern, it was tuned G D G D G, and so far I've found no reason to change that.

If you want to hear some great Irish bouzouki playing, you should check out Beth Patterson. She plays instruments of 8 and 10 strings, both in Irish bouzouki tuning. Once when I offered to let her try my new guitar she said, "Thanks anyway, but I'm guitarded."