How do you reference strings when not using notes?

[Killed_by_Death]

With as many alternate tunings as there are out there, you can't really always use B-string for a 5-string, because it might be the center string, depending on their tuning.

So, how do you reference a string w/o using a note reference?

 

[jchrisk1]

Wow, three votes so far, and only mine is correct.

 

[michael_t]

From the thinnest to the thickest, 1-2-3-4-5, etc.

 

[RyanOh]

No wonder this sounds all wrong.

 

[Mushroo]

Technically none of your answers are 100% correct in all situations, for example, a lefty who plays "upside down righty" tuning.

The string numbers are defined by their pitches (not their proximity to your feet or face).

 

[Killed_by_Death]

right or lefty, the strings will be in the same spatial relationship to your face or feet

Disclaimer:
please stop responding to this, we already cleared it up

 

[Mushroo]

right or lefty, the strings will be in the same spatial relationship to your face or feet

True, but some lefty players tune EADG while others tune GDAE. You don't have an option in your poll for those of us who number the strings according to pitch.

 

[mikewalker]

Personally I've never bought into that "1st string is the thinnest one" propaganda!

I like to count from the bottom up
For me the LOW strings are facing me, and the HIGH strings are towards the floor.

And I go UP the neck (towards the bridge), to ascend in pitch... *I will actually cringe when someone says they are going 'down the fretboard' to play higher...

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I should have left out top & bottom, because then how do you refer to the 2nd & 3rd strings?
Same goes for high & low.

 

[okcrum]

The "Carrots - no one I know uses numbers" choice is missing.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

others tune GDAE

All 5 of those people are going to skew my results

 

[Mushroo]

All 5 of those people are going to skew my results

Should of had an option in your poll for "strings are numbered according to their pitch."

 

[jchrisk1]

All 5 of those people are going to skew my results

Not really. Those are notes/pitches. Which were not included in string reference.

 

[jchrisk1]

And maybe I'm wrong, but don't upside down lefties turn their sheet music upside down and read from right to left, bottom to top?

 

[lowplaces]

My answer to the question...
1st string plus however many more there are on the instrument in question.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

That doesn't answer the question

Should of had an option

I should have & I understood that the first time. (out of three)
Too late now, maybe you can start a better poll
(for the very few people who put the largest diameter string closest to their feet)

 

[lowplaces]

You can't say that the first string is always the highest in Pitch because on a banjo the 5th string is highest in pitch.

The only way to describe it to someone who doesn't understand is that the strings are numbered right to left as you are facing the top of an upright instrument.

 

[Vinny_G]

From the thinnest to the thickest, 1-2-3-4-5, etc.

Same here. This is the conventional method for stringed instruments, at least in classical music.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

This reminds me of the Strat 5-way switches.
Most players think the first position is with the switch toward the headstock, but in reality it's with the switch towards the bridge.

 

[lowplaces]

Same here. This is the conventional method for stringed instruments, at least in classical music.

Banjos
On the 5-string Banjo the 5th string is the thinnest.