Why is a guitar tuned the way it is?

[manila]

@Zsofia

snip

Himself plays a little bit of banjo. The banjo is tuned to a chord. (I think it’s G?) Anyway, you strum the open strings and it makes a nice chord.

And Tenor Banjo?

[Shakester]

@Fl3tch3rb0y

Six string bass is obviously tuned in fourths…

Obviously? Maybe that seems obvious to you. To me six string bass is tuned an octave below standard guitar and is used in many forms of music, from Glen Campbell to the Cure.