Hi, I apologize for creating an entire thread for this. I have noticed that there are members here who deal with music and, I suppose, would have a basic understanding of stringed instruments. When I was a boy, my aunt gave me her practice guitar. I decided to read some instruction manuals and other information in preparation for learning to to play. I also had thoughts of taking up violin or cello at some point. I learned about alternate tunings, twelve string and tenor guitars, basic chord forms and methods. I was trying to find the easiest and quickest way for a complete novice to advance and then learn other instruments. Life intervened and and I dropped the idea- but not before I had formed a few nagging questions. I'm too embarrassed to ask this of professonal guitarists and I don't want to join another site just for this. If you will forgive my near total ignorance and some exceedingly stupid questions... My goal was to find a tuning that would work best for a beginner. I wanted it to cover the full range of the standard six string with standard tuning, make everything as logical as possible, simple (simplistic) for learning and remembering scales, to reduce the number of strings necessary, to accomodate the widest variety of hand forms (I can stretch a tenth on piano, but my pinkey is short and my thumb is set back relative to my other long slender fingers), ease chord formation, and transfer as much as possible to the orchestral strings. To accomplish all that I had to go outside the box and I couldn't find examples of anything quite like it. I had finally settled on an open tuning that ran EAEAE low-to-high. However, I thought of stringing EEEAA across the fretboard (EEEA#A# has a nice symmetry, but I'm not sure if the stepped up A#s would work well open.) E,E^1oc,E^2ocs,A,A^1oc. I experimented in altered standard tuning as best I could with my completely untutored and pathetically limited imagination. The high E in the middle with the low A and then high A following was certainly awkward with regard for standard tuning. However, I imagined there might be several advantages to more than compensate... 5 strings, 3Es or 2As might be played together as though doubled, the low E and E^1oc might be strung in close courses as on a 12 string (low E with thumb and further thinning the neck) learn only E and A, low E to high E as with standard tuning, no broken fourths, some easier chord forms with opportunities to play neighboring strings as though doubled, and some easier reach and thumbwork on the fret board. I'd hoped it could be as easy to learn and play as a four string in perfect fifths while producing six string sound. Also, a seven string guitar EEEEAAA might be possible on a six string neck. For the orchestral strings, EEAA might be possible, but EAEA low to high might be better with a bow. I was drawn to this tuning because the violin GDAE isn't my preference. I prefer the lower deeper tones of the violin and find it's highest notes too painfully piercing. The viola seems a little too low and throaty. Down a 3rd on the low end and down a fifth on the high end seems about right to me. The cello tuned up a third might make a better solo instrument. Dbass would remain in the same range. Anyway, sorry for all the rambling. I'm sure there are simple and obvious reasons for why that tuning is impractical. I guess I'm asking for those reasons so this stops nagging at me. If you made it this far you've given more consideration than this deserves. Thanks :)