Cigar box guitar string tension
A three-string cigar box guitar is usually tuned to open G, GDG, but in three different octaves. The low version is G2 D3 G3, like the bottom of a guitar's open G; the mixed one is G2 D4 G4; the high one is G3 D4 G4. Each needs its own gauges, and the calculator opens on C. B. Gitty's light set for low GDG (.022, .030, .042) on a 25″ scale.
Tension of C. B. Gitty's light low-GDG set at 25″
Three-string cigar box guitar, G2 D3 G3, 635 mm scale. Phosphor bronze unit weights from the D'Addario chart.
| String | Note | Gauge | kg | lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | G3 | .022w | 11.1 | 24.5 |
| 2 | D3 | .030w | 11.8 | 26.0 |
| 3 | G2 | .042w | 10.3 | 22.8 |
How to use it
- Enter your scale length, nut to bridge. C. B. Gitty sets are made for 24″ to 26″.
- Pick the tuning: GDG low (G2 D3 G3), mixed (G2 D4 G4) or high (G3 D4 G4). String 1 is the highest note.
- Choose a C. B. Gitty set, compare it with another under Compare with, or pick String by string and type the gauges in your drawer.
- Switch between lb, kg and N. Gauges outside the D'Addario chart show ≈ as estimates.
Help and explanations
On that scale the set pulls 24.5 lb on the .022 G3, 26.0 lb on the .030 D3 and 22.8 lb on the .042 G2: about 73.4 lb (33.3 kg) in total. Switch the tuning or the set and the numbers follow; type your own scale if your neck isn't 25″.
How the tension is calculated
The formula is D'Addario's, T = UW × (2 × L × F)² ÷ 386.4, with unit weights from the D'Addario chart. C. B. Gitty sells the same gauges in bronze or nickel; the calculator uses phosphor bronze weights for the wound strings, as on an acoustic guitar. Nickel strings weigh a little less, so their tension reads a few percent lower.
C. B. Gitty's chart pairs each arrangement with a set: .022/.030/.042 for low GDG, .009/.012/.042 for mixed and .009/.012/.022 for high. Here those come to about 73.4, 58.4 and 60.2 lb on 25″. The medium Blues Blaster set (.026/.034/.044) for low GDG pulls about 92.1 lb, a quarter more, for a punchier slide tone.
Scale changes everything
The light low-GDG set drops to about 67.6 lb on a 24″ neck and rises to 76.4 lb on 25.5″. That's why C. B. Gitty warns against using its sets far outside 24″ to 26″: below that range they go slack and buzz, above it they get stiff and the thin strings break more easily. Built your box to an odd scale? Put it in here and adjust the gauges until each string reads close to its neighbors.
Tips
- Still building? Lay out the frets for your scale with the cigar box guitar fret calculator.
- Ready to put the strings on? Follow the cigar box guitar stringing guide.
- A thin box lid can sink under a heavy set. If yours is soft, start with the light set and watch the top around the bridge for the first few days.
Frequently asked questions
What strings do I need for a 3-string cigar box guitar in GDG?
For low GDG (G2 D3 G3), .022, .030 and .042, all wound, as in C. B. Gitty's light set. For mixed GDG (G2 D4 G4), .009, .012 and .042; for high GDG (G3 D4 G4), .009, .012 and .022.
Can I use guitar strings on a cigar box guitar?
Yes. CBG sets are single guitar strings: the wound .022 to .044 are acoustic-guitar gauges and the .009 and .012 are ordinary plain electric strings. Pick them by gauge and check the tension here.
What is the tension of cigar box guitar strings?
On a 25″ scale, the light low-GDG set pulls about 22.8 to 26.0 lb per string, 73.4 lb (33.3 kg) in total. The medium Blues Blaster set comes to about 92.1 lb.
What are the notes of cigar box guitar strings in open G?
Low GDG: G2 98.00 Hz, D3 146.83 Hz, G3 196.00 Hz. Mixed GDG raises the D and top G an octave, to D4 293.66 Hz and G4 392.00 Hz.
Does scale length change string tension?
Yes, with the square of the length. The same light set is 67.6 lb on 24″, 73.4 lb on 25″ and 76.4 lb on 25.5″.