Bouzouki strings
Created | Updated Jul 25, 2017
Typical trichordo strings (inch gauge)
D3 .022 wound
D4 .011
A3 .014
A3 .014
D4 .011
D4 .011
For lighter string reduce every string by .001 :
D3 .021 wound
D4 .010
A3 .013
A3 .013
D4 .010
D4 .010
Can you just buy a set of tetrachordo strings and use six of them?
CFAD
A typical set from Addario:
C3 .028 wound
C4 .013
F3 .022 wound
F4 .010
A3 .013
A3 .013
D4 .010
D4 .010
These are light, based on the equivalent Trichordo strings. Note that they use the same gauge for the top D and for the F octave string which is a minor third higher. They also use the same gauge for the A string and the C octave string which is a minor third higher. This suggests that an unwound string can be tuned up to a minor third higher than nominal.
This set has five of the six strings needed for a trichordo set. The only difference is a .022W instead of a .021W, so the bass string might not be quite as light as the other strings.
Here's another set, from Prodigy:
3x.011
3x.014
1x.022W
1x.028W
Again, the same gauge is used for the C and F octave strings as for the A and D strings.
Note that this set uses a .022W for the thick F string, so this would be the same as the 6-string set. If this is cheaper, it be perfect, particularly since it gives you a spare A string.
Could you use Guitar strings?
No. The strings are the correct gauge and length, but they will have the wrong ends on them for attaching to the instrument. Guitars use ends with a little brass cylinder with the wire wrapped around it. Bouzoukis need a plain loop, which hooks over a metal peg on the tailpiece.
D3 .022 wound
D4 .011
A3 .014
A3 .014
D4 .011
D4 .011
For lighter string reduce every string by .001 :
D3 .021 wound
D4 .010
A3 .013
A3 .013
D4 .010
D4 .010
Can you just buy a set of tetrachordo strings and use six of them?
CFAD
A typical set from Addario:
C3 .028 wound
C4 .013
F3 .022 wound
F4 .010
A3 .013
A3 .013
D4 .010
D4 .010
These are light, based on the equivalent Trichordo strings. Note that they use the same gauge for the top D and for the F octave string which is a minor third higher. They also use the same gauge for the A string and the C octave string which is a minor third higher. This suggests that an unwound string can be tuned up to a minor third higher than nominal.
This set has five of the six strings needed for a trichordo set. The only difference is a .022W instead of a .021W, so the bass string might not be quite as light as the other strings.
Here's another set, from Prodigy:
3x.011
3x.014
1x.022W
1x.028W
Again, the same gauge is used for the C and F octave strings as for the A and D strings.
Note that this set uses a .022W for the thick F string, so this would be the same as the 6-string set. If this is cheaper, it be perfect, particularly since it gives you a spare A string.
Could you use Guitar strings?
No. The strings are the correct gauge and length, but they will have the wrong ends on them for attaching to the instrument. Guitars use ends with a little brass cylinder with the wire wrapped around it. Bouzoukis need a plain loop, which hooks over a metal peg on the tailpiece.
Strings for my DGC tuning
This uses D3 D3 G3 G3 C4 C4.
The D3 strings are the same ones as on trichordo, so .022 wound will do, but I'll need two of them. A standard Trichordo set will only have one.
The G3 strings could be a wound F tuned up one tone, or an unwound A tuned down one tone. Since the F3 strings given above are the same as the D3 string but tuned up 3 semitones, it is already over tension. So not recommended. Unwound gives a better tone. Ideally, a slightly heavier A string would be ideal. So if there is anything available slightly bigger than .014, get that.
| D4 | 7 | 11 |
| C4 | 5 | 12 |
| A3 | 2 | 14 |
| G3 | 0 | 15 |
I use 0.012 for the C strings, 0.015 for the G strings and 0.022 wound for the D strings. Hobgoblin sell individual strings in a range of gauges.
