How to restring a Greek bouzouki
A Greek bouzouki is strung like a long-necked mandolin: loop-end strings hook on a tailpiece at the bottom of the bowl, cross a floating bridge held only by string pressure, and run to geared tuners in the head. The eight-string tetrachordo has four pairs, the six-string trichordo three.
Greek bouzouki tetrachordo (CFAD), string by string
From the lowest course to the highest, at A = 440 Hz. C and F are octave pairs; A and D are unison pairs.
| String | Note | Hz |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | C3 + C4 | 130.81 + 261.63 |
| 3 | F3 + F4 | 174.61 + 349.23 |
| 2 | A3 | 220.00 |
| 1 | D4 | 293.66 |
How to use it
- Read the steps first, then tick each one as you go. Progress is saved on this device.
- With every box ticked, the page scrolls to the tuner. Choose tetrachordo or trichordo and tune each string of each pair on its own.
- Start over clears the guide for the next string change.
Help and explanations
At the end of the guide, the tuner opens on C F A D: C3 + C4 (130.81 + 261.63 Hz) and F3 + F4 (174.61 + 349.23 Hz) as octave pairs, then A3 (220.00 Hz) and D4 (293.66 Hz) in unison pairs. The trichordo, D A D with a D3 + D4 octave bass, is in the list too.
Keep the bridge where it is
The bridge sets the intonation and nothing but the strings holds it down. Change one string at a time, or at most one pair, and the bridge stays put. If you need all the strings off to clean the fretboard or polish the frets, mark the bridge position with two small pieces of masking tape on the top first.
D'Addario's EJ97 set for CFAD is all loop end: .010 on D, .013 on A, .022 wound with a .010 octave on F, and .028 wound with a .013 octave on C. Before you start, look at which side of each octave pair the wound string sits on your bouzouki, and keep that order with the new set.
Octave pairs in tune
The thin octave string of the C and F pairs sounds a full octave above its wound partner: C4 over C3, F4 over F3. The most common mistake after a string change is tuning it to the same note as the wound string and snapping it. The tuner below shows the target note and octave for each string, so check the number before you go higher.
Tips
- Trying a heavier or lighter set? Compare it course by course in the Greek bouzouki string tension calculator.
- After the new set settles, play the 12th fret against the open string with the intonation checker and slide the bridge toward the tail if the fretted note is sharp.
- Keep the loops seated on the tailpiece hooks while you tighten: hold the string with light tension until the tuner takes up the slack.
Frequently asked questions
How do you string a Greek bouzouki?
One string at a time: hook the loop end on the tailpiece, lay the string in its bridge and nut slots, thread it through the tuner post with about 2 inches of slack, wind it on and tune it to its note, keeping octave pairs an octave apart.
What are the notes of an 8-string Greek bouzouki?
C F A D from the lowest course: C3 + C4, F3 + F4, A3 + A3 and D4 + D4, from 130.81 to 349.23 Hz at A = 440 Hz.
How is a 6-string bouzouki tuned?
The trichordo is D A D: D3 + D4 (146.83 + 293.66 Hz), A3 + A3 (220.00 Hz) and D4 + D4 (293.66 Hz).
Which strings of the bouzouki are octave pairs?
On the tetrachordo, the C and F courses: a wound low string with a plain string an octave higher. The A and D courses are unison pairs. On the trichordo, only the bass D course is an octave pair.
How often should I change bouzouki strings?
When they sound dull, the octave pairs stop agreeing or the 12th fret won't intonate. Players who gig change them every few weeks; the plain octave strings tend to break first.