Dobro® / Resonator Guitar
Overview
Tuning Steps
Sweetened Tunings
Products
More Info
Discuss
Dobro® / Resonator Guitar
Overview
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.
How To Tune Your Dobro® / Resonator Guitar
- 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.
- Repeat the above for the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th strings until all strings are tuned.
Standard And Alternate Tunings for dobro family instruments
Dobro® / Resonator Guitar
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
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
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
Sweetened Tunings
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.
Sweeteners For Dobro® & Resonator Guitar
Products With Dobro® & Resonator Guitar Sweeteners
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StroboClip HDC
$79.99

StroboStomp Mini
$119.00

StroboStomp LE
$169.00

StroboPLUS HDC
$179.99
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StroboStomp HD
$149.00

StroboClip HD
$59.99

StroboPLUS HD
$149.99

iStroboSoft™ (iOS)
$9.99

StroboSoft 2.0
$49.99 - $99.99
Things to check to get the most out of your instrument’s tuning
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.
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