Talk:Alto guitar

Why a DAB page

Both the six-string alto guitar and the altgittar are normally just called alto guitar by those familiar with them. They're both fairly obscure instruments but they're both common enough to be made by several major makers, and therefore encyclopedic.

So, there's no primary meaning, but there are only two likely meanings. Under these circumstances, Wikipedia:Disambiguation#Disambiguation page or disambiguation links? advises if there are two topics for a term but neither is considered the primary topic, then a disambiguation page is used.

The article names six-string alto guitar and eleven-string alto guitar seem reasonable choices in terms of Wikipedia:Disambiguation#Naming the specific topic articles: When there is another term (such as Pocket billiards instead of Pool) or more complete name (such as Delta rocket instead of Delta) that is equally clear and unambiguous, that should be used. The six-string article name seems particularly apt, the eleven less so.

Another name for the article on the eleven and thirteen-string versions would be altgittar, which covers both, but the eleven-string version is by far the more common, and is known just as alto guitar, and the thirteen-string version is a relatively rare variant of the eleven. I can argue that both ways. Andrewa (talk) 12:00, 13 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Hey, I found a third meaning, see this guitar maker's FAQ and note under Tenor guitar tunings one is called Alto guitar. Unfortunately there's something strange about the way they've described the tuning... Andrewa (talk) 12:52, 13 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

A better description of the alto guitar tuning for four=string tenor guitar is at this tenor guitar tunings page and seems consistent! Andrewa (talk) 13:01, 13 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I think we should just make a page for alto guitars in general, and then explain that it also refers to a tenor guitar tuning Tubularbells1993 (talk) 17:52, 26 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Alto guitar is an inherently ambiguous term, since, with the exception of the Niibori alto guitar, most of the things it refers to are generally not guitars in the alto range at all. A "disambiguation page" is definitely in order for this term.

74.95.43.249 (talk) 23:09, 30 October 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Requinto?

Some mention should also be made of the Requinto guitar, which is substantially similar to the six string alto, but tuned a fourth higher, instead of a fifth. Maybe they should be merged, as the only diference is an alternate tuning. oknazevad (talk) 14:13, 6 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

What you describe is true, but I've never seen a requinto anywhere referred to as an "alto guitar". If you have, by all means provide the reference, and add it to the list. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.95.43.249 (talk) 00:26, 14 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]