How to Play the Cigar Box Guitar
Cigar Box Guitars (CBG) are as you picture them — an instrument made with a cigar box, a wooden neck and steel strings attached. The instrument has grown in popularity as DIY kits, and building plans became readily available for hobbyists. However, the first mention of a cigar box instrument dates back to the mid-1860s. The oldest known reference to the instrument is from a drawing during the American Civil War at the “Siege of Charleston.”
Today, many refined luthiers are producing highly crafted instruments available for custom order. The modern Cigar Box Guitar continues to be made from authentically sourced cigar boxes, though many luthiers also make a custom-built box with similar dimensions. The 3-String Cigar Box Guitar is more common than the 4-String version, with GDG or GDGB as the preferred tuning. Both versions typically come with at least one electric pickup for amplification. For more information, read this article on what to look for when buying a cigar box guitar.
Learn How to Play Cigar Box Guitar
No offence to lefties, but I will refer to your strumming hand as the right hand, and the hand that forms chords and notes as the left hand.
The first question would be: is your CBG set up to be played with a slide with a higher action (the distance of strings to the neck), or does it have a lower action and played with the fingers?
The Left Hand
A higher action is perfect for playing with the slide but can go out of tune when fingering or pressing down notes or chords on the fingerboard. Slide playing requires a higher action and works best with an open tuning.
A lower action is also good for slide, provided the action isn’t too low, and the string height is suitable for both slide and fingers. The notes and chords should remain in tune when you press down on the strings similar to an acoustic guitar. The string gauges range in diameter between an acoustic or electric. A typical gauge for a bluesy sounding 3-String is .042″, .030″ and .022.”
The Right Hand
There are at least three options for the right picking hand on the CBG. My guess is that playing with fingers or fingerstyle is the most popular approach, the guitar pick as second, and a hybrid pick and fingers approach as the third. Thumb picks and finger picks are also frequently used, especially with resonator cigar box guitars as seen below.
For more information about fingerpicking check out the complete lesson here.
The Slide
Finding the right slide is a challenge of its own! For many years, slide players would have to conform to commercial slides that are often too big or too narrow. Fortunately, there are now more slide manufacturers that cater to different finger sizes and materials (glass, metal, ceramic, bone).
Try different slide materials and listen to the tone produced. Some players prefer a raspy sharp sound with a steel slide while others like a round smooth sound with glass. Of course, the slide you choose will also depend on which finger your wear the slide. Most players put the slide on the 3rd or 4th finger, which allows other fingers to play along with the slide. There are no rules, so try the slide on different fingers and do what feels natural to you.
Here are two tips to learn how to play slide: 1) keep the slide in line with the fret to play in tune, and 2) practice playing single notes with the slide on a tilt.
As mentioned earlier, GDG is the closest to a standard tuning currently used on the 3-String Cigar Box Guitar, and GDGB the standard for the 4-string. Tablature is the quickest way to learn tunes and riffs, although some books include standard notation for players with experience reading music.
Ask yourself the following four questions to help you understand and read tablature:
1) What tab number is the string on?–Strings are thin (1st) to thick (4th).
2) What is the fret number?–The number is the fret the note is on.
3) Which finger do I use?–This question is more difficult as fingering constantly changes. As a general rule, keep your fingers in position where possible, meaning the fingers are evenly spaced between frets (1st finger on 1st fret, 2nd finger on 2nd fret, etc.). When playing chords, use the most functional position to allow a simple transition when switching chords.
4) How long do you let the note ring?–This depends on the song’s rhythm, but try to keep or retain your fingers on the fretboard as long as possible, to let the notes ring as long as possible.
Let’s try a few simple riffs on the CBG
In riff one, practice taking the slide or finger on and off the first string. Keep the finger close to the fret to avoid fret rattle. If using a slide, keep the slide in line with the fret to play in tune.
Playing in Tune with the Slide
Ok, one last technique to learn-the slide. The most important rule when using a slide is to keep the slide directly over the center of the fret to play the note in tune. Apply an even pressure without pressing down too hard on the strings as the “slide should glide” over the strings. A slide is written with a line between the notes. Sometimes a grace note (smaller note) is played before the main note, as in the examples here. The grace note shows which note to slide from and is usually a quick slide up or down.
Your First Cigar Box Guitar Song: Worried Man Blues
Alright, let’s put it all together and try a little tune called Worried Man Blues. You can practice the three techniques you have learned so far: the hammer on, pull off and slide. Listen to the audio or watch the play along with the youtube video for “worried Man Blues” below:
Ok, I hope you have a better idea about how to play the cigar box guitar. Visit my website for books, free lessons and audio tracks.
