If you've ever felt stuck in a rut with your guitar playing, switching to a four-string instrument can be a great choice. It can open up a whole new world of musical possibilities, including new tunings and chord shapes.

But don't take our word for it! Our customers and artists are the real experts here. In this blog, we're going to hear directly from them on all the ways a tenor guitar can expand your playing and inspire you in new ways.

Lee Ranaldo from Sonic Youth

"I have quite some experience with tenor guitars, but Warren’s model is the first electric tenor I’ve played... I love playing with a 4-string instrument - it can be a way to focus on the note combinations and harmony, especially with all the tunings that are possible and which I am always using, and often leads to interesting ideas that might turn out differently on a 6 string instrument."—Lee Ranaldo

Warren Ellis (Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, The Dirty Three, Grinderman)

"I only recently discovered the tenor guitar. I had read about them but never played one; they are hard to find in a bricks and mortar store, even here in Houston... I’ve been a mediocre guitar player for 45 years with small hands who could never get much past 1st position and easy barre chords and rhythm and simple fingerpicking. Suddenly chords I can’t play on a 6-string are accessible to me with 1 or 2 fingers! It has breathed new life into my songwriting. [And] all that is available to my pedalboard and amps, amazing!"—Warren Ellis

Darin S.'s MRG Tenor

"I am very pleased with this instrument! Especially at the price. Gorgeous clean tone. A very lightweight guitar, which is perfect after playing a Les Paul for years. I love all the possible tunings."—Darin S.

Gerald R.'s Eastwood Model S Tenor

"I’m so happy I stumbled across Eastwood and the 4 string tenor guitars... I am a ukulele player, and hardly touch them anymore. The larger scale length is just more comfortable to play and a lot of fun. I call myself an electric tenor guitar player now."—Gerald R.

Kurt B. hanging out with his Astrojet Tenor

"The Astrojet has the simplified controls of an SG with the offset body of the Gretsch Astro-Jet. I love the narrow neck though someone with "fat" fingers might find it too narrow. For anyone who likes a slim neck and wants to rock a Tenor, this is the axe for you."—Kurt B.

Phil C.'s left-handed Warren Ellis Tenor 2P

"I am a leftie and so guitars are sometimes difficult and frustrating to get hold of...On to my Warren Ellis signature tenor. This is a fantastic little powerhouse with tone from the pickups that is just amazing straight out of the box."—Phil C.

Eric P. teaching with his Classic Tenor

"I restrung my tenor like a ukulele, so that when I teach Uke, we will be in different registers. In this way, the student can hear themselves, but my playing can support their sound."—Eric P.

Andrew S. playing his Classic Tenor

"This guitar is like being wrapped up in a cozy blanket sitting next to a wood stove. The warmth and tone is amazing. Plays really nicely and is set up just the way I would like it to be. Well done Eastwood."—Andrew S.