Tenor guitar

A small four-string guitar, historically tuned in fifths, used in jazz, folk and trad ensembles as a compact chord and rhythm instrument.

Four closely spaced strings in fifths give it a clear, cutting voice and make chord shapes symmetrical, since the same shape transposes across the strings as it does on a mandolin. It sits in a register between a guitar and a mandolin, which is why it works well for rhythm playing in a group where a standard guitar would be too full and a mandolin too piercing. Modern versions are also built with a longer scale and heavier tuning.

Example: an ensemble needing a crisp rhythm guitar that does not muddy the bass will often reach for a tenor.

Tenor guitar

See also