All Fifths

All Fifths

Among guitar tunings, all-fifths tuning refers to the set of tunings in which each interval between consecutive open strings is a perfect fifth. All-fifths tuning is also called fifths, perfect fifths, or mandoguitar. The conventional "standard tuning" consists of perfect fourths and a single major third between the G (g) and B (b') strings:

E-A-d-g-b'-e'

All-fifths tuning has the open strings

C-G-d-a-e'-b'",

which have an interval of 3 octaves minus a half-step between the lowest and highest string ; the conventional tuning has an interval of 2 octaves between lowest and highest string.

All-fifths tuning is a tuning in intervals of perfect fifths like that of a mandolin or a violin It has a wide range. Its implementation has been impossible with nylon strings and has been difficult with conventional steel strings. The high b would require so much tension (for a light gauge 0.010-0.012) that conventional strings snap upon being tuned up.