Electric Tenor Guitars

Electric Tenor Guitars for Sale on Reverb

If you’ve ever seen a four-stringed guitar that’s not a bass and not a ukulele, it’s probably a tenor guitar! Electric tenor guitars have famously been played by Warren Ellis, Elvis Costello, Neko Case, Amanda Shires, and more. From newer builds by brands like Eastwood to vintage Gibson SG and ETG-150 tenors, Reverb has an electric tenor guitar you’re sure to fall in love with.

What are Electric Tenor Guitars?

Electric tenor guitars are four-stringed electric guitars that are typically tuned like a mandolin, like the top four strings of a guitar, or in open tunings like a banjo. They have a shorter scale length and nut width, making them easier for players with smaller hands. They’re known for their ability to cut through a band mix.

Is electric tenor guitar easier to play?

If you have small hands or are coming from an instrument tuned in fifths, you might find playing a tenor guitar easier than a six-string guitar. Like any instrument, it takes patience and dedication to master the tenor guitar, but it’s not uncommon for a new player to be able to perform a song after their first lesson.

What is an electric tenor guitar used for?

Traditionally, tenor guitars were made to help tenor banjo players transition to the increasingly popular guitar in jazz settings. Though that’s not typically the case anymore, electric tenor guitars are often played by musicians who simply like the way it cuts through a mix, are used to other four-stringed instruments like the mandolin or violin, or simply find it hard to navigate a six-string guitar for any reason.

What is an electric tenor guitar tuned to?

Though purists will say a tenor guitar must be tuned like a tenor banjo (C3 G3 D4 A4), but it can also be tuned like a baritone ukulele or guitar (D3 G3 B3 E4), an octave mandolin (G2 D3 A3 E4), or any other tuning that speaks to you as a player.

Electric Tenor Guitars Near Me

To exclusively browse electric tenor guitars near you, reference the list of top cities and countries available on Reverb to search within a desired location. You also can review shipping details within an item’s “Shop Policies” section.