Dobro® / Resonator Guitar

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Tuning Steps

Sweetened Tunings

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Tuning Dobro® / Resonator Guitar
Peterson tuners are highly accurate, precise and simple to use, you can tune your Reso to perfection if you’ve ever used a tuner of any type before. Peterson counts Jerry Douglas, Jimmy Heffernan, Randy Kohrs, the late Mike Auldridge and other Reso greats among its users, so you’ll be in good company!

The Resophonic Guitar or “Dobro” is an acoustic guitar with one or more metal resonator dishes in its body which amplify the plucked strings. The Dobro is played mostly with the strings elevated from the fretboard and facing up to the player. The strings are not “fretted”, rather they are stopped with the use of a metal tone bar (Stevens Bar).

The Dobro or Reso is commonly tuned to GBDGBD, and Open G chord, but there are many other tunings. Because of the fretless nature of resophonic guitars, it is possible to vastly improve the interval tuning using pure or “half tempered” instead of Equal Tempered tuning.

If you are not familiar with this kind of tuning jargon, relax, because there is one tuner that does it all for you. Because of Peterson tuners unique “Sweetened Tuning” feature, each tuner has a host of tempered presets which you simply choose - the tuner then guides you automatically – just like using an ordinary tuner – but sweeter.

Its easy! Using your Peterson strobe tuner, your Dobro will sound much better than when tuned using an ordinary tuner.

Tuning a Dobro to Standard GBDGBD
  1. Pluck to sound the 1st string and observe the tuner display, check that the note “D” is displayed. With your left hand, adjust the tuning peg to stop the strobe pattern image from moving contuously in any one direction, continue to adjust until the strobe pattern is motionless.
  2. Repeat the above for the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th strings until all strings are tuned.
Checking Intonation
    In the case of Resophonic guitar, much of the intonation is in the hands of the player, you’re holding a mobile fret in your left hand. However for those who play fretted round-neck style rather than raised nut square neck style, the angle of the two saddles can be adjusted to improve intonation. First note the current state of intonation. Using your Peterson Strobe Tuner, check this as follows:
    Having tuned the strings correctly, pluck the 1st string while fretting it at the 12th fret.
    If the fretted tone shows sharp on your tuner, the saddle needs to be moved a slight distance further away from the end of the neck, if it shows flat, it needs to be moved a slight distance closer to the end of the neck.
    Repeat this procedure with the 6th string. Open and fretted tones need to be in tune in each case, if not, the saddle is in the incorrect position.
    Changing the saddle position involves slackening the strings, removing the resonator coverplate, and moving or turning the spider assembly or cone to slant the saddles, you may also choose to install or make a compensated saddle. Note that the string slots may need to be re-cut to prevent the strings from being pinched because of the new angle.
= Standard Tuning
G4
= G in the 4th octave

Dobro® / Resonator Guitar

I Play This
Roundneck
Squareneck

E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4

Std. Blues

G2 B2 D3 G3 B3 D4

Bluegrass Open G

D2 G2 D3 G3 B3 D4

Open G

A2 C#3 E3 A3 C#2 E4

Open A “High Bass”

C2 G2 C3 G3 C4 E4

Open C

C3 E3 G3 A3 C4 E4

C6

D2 A2 D3 F#3 A3 D4

Open D Vestapol

D2 G2 D3 F#3 B3 D4

Wahine Tuning

E2 A2 E3 A3 C4 E4

Crossnote A

E2 A2 E3 A3 C#2 E4

Hawaiian A

C#2 F#2 C#3 F#3 A#3 C#4

John Fahey

E2 B2 E3 G#3 B3 E4

Open E “Low Bass“

D2 A2 D3 G3 A3 D4

Celtic

D2 G2 D3 G3 B3 D4

Low Bass G

Dobro® / Resonator Guitar

I Play This
Roundneck

E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4

Std. Blues

D2 G2 D3 G3 B3 D4

Open G

C2 G2 C3 G3 C4 E4

Open C

D2 A2 D3 F#3 A3 D4

Open D Vestapol

E2 A2 E3 A3 C4 E4

Crossnote A

C#2 F#2 C#3 F#3 A#3 C#4

John Fahey

D2 A2 D3 G3 A3 D4

Celtic

Squareneck

E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4

Std. Blues

D2 G2 D3 G3 B3 D4

Open G

C2 G2 C3 G3 C4 E4

Open C

D2 A2 D3 F#3 A3 D4

Open D Vestapol

E2 A2 E3 A3 C4 E4

Crossnote A

C#2 F#2 C#3 F#3 A#3 C#4

John Fahey

D2 A2 D3 G3 A3 D4

Celtic

Unlike other tuners which offer no alternative to generic Equal Temperament, Peterson Tuners contain many choices of “Sweetness“, in other words, several degrees of harmony or consonance in a tuning preset. The Sweetener feature is exclusive to Peterson Tuners and there is one for almost any musical instrument.
In the case of the Dobro Sweeteners (the presets are called DB0 & DBH), these additional “tweaks” allow the instrument to shimmer and cut through as only an expertly tuned instrument can. Some call it “voicing” or optimizing the quality of tone produced by the instrument. Using a Sweetener is simple – your Peterson tuner does the work for you.

Scroll through the different Sweetener types on your Peterson Strobe Tuner until you reach “DB0” (Pure Thirds) or “DBH” (Half-Tempered Thirds). Now tune as described previously, the tuner will make slight adjustments to the intervals to add a subtle sweetness to your sound.

AUL
Mike Auldridge's Resophonic Guitar Tuning
DBAH
Peterson Open A Sweetener for Dobro.
DBAP
Peterson Open A Sweetener for Dobro
DBDH
Peterson Open D Sweetener for Dobro
DBDP
Peterson Open D Sweetener for Dobro
DBGH
Peterson Open G Sweetener for Dobro
DBGP
Peterson Open G Sweetener for Dobro
OPB
Open B Tuning - for 6 String Guitar
OPA
Open A Tuning - for 6 String Guitar
OPC
Open C Tuning - for 6 String Guitar
OPD
Open D Tuning - for 6 String Guitar
OPE
Open E Tuning - for 6 String Guitar
OPF
Open F Tuning - for 6 String Guitar
OPG
Open G Tuning - for 6 String Guitar
OAM
Open A Minor Tuning - for 6 String Guitar
OBM
Open B Minor Tuning - for 6 String Guitar
OCM
Open C Minor Tuning - for 6 String Guitar
ODM
Open D Minor Tuning - for 6 String Guitar
OEM
Open E Minor Tuning - for 6 String Guitar
OFM
Open F Minor Tuning - for 6 String Guitar
OGM
Open G Minor Tuning - for 6 String Guitar
dbH
Peterson Combination Sweetened Tuning for Dobro
dbO
Peterson Combination Sweetened Tuning for Dobro
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The StroboPLUS HDC’s 0. | Peterson Strobe Tuners

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Featuring the largest tuning display Peterson Tuners has ever incorporated into one of their pedal tuners, the StroboStomp HD boasts a high-definition, LCD screen that incorporates a variable color LED backlight. The user-selectable colors can be used to personalize the tuner or to increase display viewing quality in different levels of ambient lighting depending on the usage environment. The vibrant screen colors can also be assigned to stock or user presets to significantly reduce menu navigation time and increase on-stage tuning confidence at the gig. For tone purists, the StroboStomp HD provides a 100% silent, true-bypass operation mode to keep precious tone safe, as well as, eliminate the often annoying “pop” experienced when engaging such a feature in other products. It uses a unique series of timed relays incorporated within its circuitry to shunt the signal, draining the cause of the popping sound prior to breaking the connection, and effectively shutting the tuner down for direct play through without affecting tone quality. The StroboStomp HD also includes a long-time, user-requested buffered output operation mode that can be user engaged. The buffered mode can be used in or out of monitor mode. It is designed to boost instrument drive to overcome potential tone loss in signal chains that incorporate multiple low-impedance guitar pedals or those that utilize long cable runs. The buffered output modes preserve sonic quality all through the instrument range and keep prized core tone intact. The StroboStomp HD features over 100 exclusive Sweetened Tunings™, as well as, numbered guided tuning presets for a large variety of instruments and playing styles. Sweetened Tunings are exclusive to Peterson tuning products and are designed to help correct inherent tuning issues exhibited by many instruments. The new "Guided Tunings" mode allows the StroboStomp HD to display numeric string values instead of traditional note names making for sure-fire intuitive and rapid re-tuning to any number of open and alternative tunings. The Guided Tuning mode was instituted for beginners who want to experiment with popular alternate tunings, as well as, experienced players who employ multiple tunings in rapid succession. Numerically expressed scales are also included.
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The Peterson StroboPlus HD (SP-1) is THE premier desktop digital tuner on the market! Equally as comfortable on a tech’s workbench as it is in a player’s guitar case, this tuner, with all of its features, is no exception to Peterson’s reputation for being THE most accurate in the industry — don’t let its demure palm size fool you! Players of both acoustic and electric instruments can rest assured— a built-in electret condenser microphone and ¼” input jack provide excellent connectivity. Gone are the days of having to carry extra batteries and tripping over power cables during a performance! This tuner is rechargeable via computer bus or outlet power, and its large, circular screen is easily viewed in both the darkest and brightest environmental conditions. Features such as Auto Off, easy menu navigation, tripod mounting capability, over 90 of our Sweetened Tunings, tone generation ability via built in speaker, and a headphone output jack round out the package. Finally, future-proof updating and parameter editing is made possible by the tuner’s unobtrusive side-mounted USB jack. And for those feeling exceptionally adventurous, this tuner can be upgraded to also feature our super flexible Body Beat metronome option, along with both audible AND tactile mode operation. Hear the beat or feel it…the power is in your hands. This tuner is fit for the most discerning of players and technicians for sure!
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1. Make sure to keep strings in good condition, wipe them down with a cloth after playing and replace them with new strings when they become old or worn. If you break a string while playing or tuning, it often means the strings are at the end of their useful life. Old strings will never hold a tuning. Replace all strings at the same time.

2. Check raised nut and spider & biscuit bridge angles, they should always be perpendicular to the strings, over time these may bend and affect tuning and intonation.

Bluesmen Bukka White and Son House both played National Single Cone resonators while Bluegrass legends Tut Taylor and Pete “Bashful Brother Oswald” Kirby both played Dobro Model 27s from the 1920s, Josh Graves favored the Model 28. Mark Knopfler’s 1936 National Style 0 graced the cover of multi-platinum selling Brothers In Arms album which featured heavily on MTV in the 1980s and gave many people their first sight of a resonator guitar. Rory Gallagher’s 1932 National Triolian’s tones were heard on many stages in the 1970s. These days the virtuoso tones of Jerry Douglas can be heard emanating from his signature Beard resophonic guitar.

The 1920s spawned many other instruments which took on a resophonic mantle such as resonator mandolin, ukulele and even dulcimer . Most of these instruments were developed to harness the louder nature of the resonator to an existing “quieter” instrument in the days before electric amplification.

Ukulele
Viola
6-String Electric Guitar
Banjo
Electric Bass Guitar
Buzz Feiten
Harp
Violin
6-String Acoustic Guitar
Mandolin
Dobro® & Resonator Guitar
Bagpipes
Pedal Steel Guitar
Lap Steel Guitar
Upright Bass
Cello
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