This is a survey of information about the stringing of the 5-course guitar in the 17th and early 18th centuries, taken from original documents of the period. It is not exhaustive, but it includes the most important sources. The guitar was double strung - that is each “course” comprised two strings, although the first course was usually a single string. It was tuned in 4ths with a major 3rd between the second and third courses. Scordaturaor irregular tunings were often used, but do not affect the way in which the instrument is strung. When pitch is indicated, the first course is usually tuned to the nominal pitch e’ as on the classical guitar, although a few sources give d’ as an alternative. The strings of the second and third courses were tuned in unison. The main part of this survey deals with the different methods of stringing the fourth and fifth courses, with or without low octave strings (usually referred to as bourdons). It is arranged under three main headings…)
Monica Hall https://monicahall2.files.wordpress.com
the stringing of the 5-course guitar
