About Me

Hey there, and welcome to Three-String Cigar Box Guitar. My name is Glenn, and I build, play, and study chromatically fretted, three-string cigar box guitars tuned to open G (G-D-g, or 1-5-8).

My Roots in the Cigar Box Guitar Movement

My journey really started around 2011 when I began working for C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply, owned by my dear friend Ben Baker. Over the years, as I took on different roles there, my understanding of music and theory started to evolve through a three-string lens.

Pushing 3-String Music Theory

Because these guitars are typically tuned to an open chord, they serve as an incredible launchpad—it allows anyone to play countless songs with just one finger. But while that tuning and a three-string setup might seem like a limited architecture, my love for complex genres like jazz and metal pushed me to dig deeper. I wanted to find different ways of seeing that three-string framework, using it to unlock an entirely new way of looking at the fretboard.

What You'll Find Here

This blog is where I share those discoveries. Here, you'll find lessons, music theory, and build logs for 3-string cigar box guitars, all rooted in the desire to push the boundaries of what can be played on these instruments. I also share a personal look at the stories and projects happening behind the scenes.