Strumbola
A strumbola is a multi-stringed lute-tiple instrument using four courses of strings with two or three strings per courses, tuned in octaves. The Strumbola's open-tuning forms a diminished chord, giving a tight close-chord harmony up the neck, creating a Jazz-Harp like sound, with all the melodic movement on the 'inside' of the chord.
Description
The Strumbola was invented by John Case Schaeffer II in 2003. The name Strumbola derived from the open tuning of minor thirds which enhances "strumming" for rhythm section Jazz-Swing style chord voicings, lending more subtle tonal movements within those Jazz harmony chordings.
The standard tunings of the guitar and mandolin facilitate soloing and melodic movement in the top few strings during chording, with some chords being formed by the top three or four strings only, while leaving the bottom strings tacit. In contrast, Strumbola tuning differs in that every chord is a barre chord, and all melodic movement within the chord is accomplished with the middle, ring, and pinky fingers. This results in a multitude of inside-the-chord close harmonies, similar to that of the fuller harp, but through the diminished chords leans toward a jazz feel.
Strumbola tuning is not conducive to single string soloing, as the intervals are so close together as to allow scarcely more than an octave to work with. The Strumbola concept is defined by the instrument's tuning, not by the physical design or shape of the body. Accordingly, many fretted instruments can be "Strumbola-ized" by stringing and tuning them to create multiple courses tuned to a diminished chord.
Sources
- Randall Robinson Jack Schaeffer: Strumbola AllAboutJazz.com, April 16, 2008.