Tunings

Ray

Sorry about this but I need to rant somewhere. Popped out and got the Guitar Techniques mag (Feb issue 161). Nice bit on fingerstyle blues which I want to get going on. So I whip it open and get stuck into the exercises. Or try to anyway. Sounded whack! I thought the oke that wrote it must have been vrot or something or maybe you get typos with music notation software that they have at the printers or something. Or maybe it's just me. So I have a smoke, cup of coffee and wash my face and sit down and try again. Still all (yissie! I nearly said a word that would make the mods and rockers upset) messed up. And the tab below the staff tells me I am playing the notes right. Deep soul searching. Maybe this guitar thing is just a waste of time and money. Absolutely no reason for me to believe that what I am hearing is trash because it's clever people what writes these articles ne? So I went for a walk down to the golf course. And I was thinking all the time that life is going to be a lot easier now without the challenges that music is presenting. Why would I want to put myself through the torment and pain that my parents subjected me to for so many years when I was a kid? Funny things that you find in music theory and practice that really take a lot of your time. Things like scales and arpegios and stuff that I've read about alternate tunings. So I turned around and went home and read the intro to the exercises. DADGAD!

I've been reading about it but never had any encounter with it til now. All cool and groovy again. Ag you know, I was embarrassed for a while but then I thought it was quite a hoot.

sepheritoh

Everything you ever wanted to know you can find at

http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=64127

Heath

atleast they did put it in , i once battled for 3 weeks trying to learn a song until i relised it was dropped tunning , althought it does drive me mad , i hate detuning my main guitar , i am a firm believer it isn't good for the strings (waits for the tomatoes and vegetables to be thrown at me )

but at the end of the day it RTFM

Werner-Carstens

I tried DADGAD on my acoustic for a while but never felt comfortable with it. Standard poses enough of a challenge for me.

Squonk

@ Werner I also tried DADGAD, but actually started enjoying it. Opens up songwriting because the chords sound so different. My only problem is that I would have to buy an acoustic guitar just for that tuning. Doesn't work if you only have one acoustic. Having to tune back to standard all the time is a bit annoying.

I suppose I could try the Line 6 700 acoustic which can go to DADGAD at the turn of a Knob.
Anyone tried the Line 6 Acoustic?

FatBoy

I currently have my acoustic in standard tuning, and my electric in Open G with low E string removed (Yes I dig Keith Richards). It is annoying to change tunings all the time, so I suppose I'll have to get two more guitars ? YAY!

Neps

When my guitars are all stringed up, I think only one is in standard.. DADDAD I love! My one acoustic is tuned to this on a permanent basis. Did have to laugh one day.. Got tabs to learn to play some weird bluesy stuff.. played and it sounded weird.. but then again.. weird bluesy stuff.. Turns out, I only downloaded half the tab (dont know how), and the guit had to CADGAD.. Never tried it again.. Might have a go at it tonight..

Ray: Don't worry.. I know your pain

Tailon: Expect a barrage of tomatoes when I get into chat again

Bob-Dubery

Ray wrote So I turned around and went home and read the intro to the exercises. DADGAD!

I've been reading about it but never had any encounter with it til now. All cool and groovy again. Ag you know, I was embarrassed for a while but then I thought it was quite a hoot.

I've been vowing to give DADGAD a try - but somehow I never find the time.

Jimmy Page used DADGAD on some Led Zeppelin numbers (I can't say off-hand which ones, and that wasn't the only alternate tuning he used with LZ).

"Invention" or "discovery" of DADGAD is usually attributed to the late Davy Graham. Graham himself said that what he did was take a tuning commonly used on the oud and move it to the guitar.

If you really want to get into unusual tunings, then try some Nick Drake pieces. Drake used a lot of different tunings. Though I think it more the case, given that Drake didn't write much down in the way of tabs, that serious Drake scholars have had to figure out what tunings he used, or find tunings that made various things possible. There's no doubt that he did use a lot of different tunings (and not the more common ones like DADGAD or drop-D) because on the rare occasions when he played live there was a lot of retuning going on between each number. Joe Boyd (who should know) also makes references in his book to Drake's use of unusual tuning and his retuning between demonstrating or recording each number.

Returning to Led Zeppelin... I'm fairly sure that "Black Mountainside" and "Rain Song" are in DADGAD.

Gearhead

To decrease re-tuning and to not have to buy more than one guitar: Hipshot Trilogy. Saves you from buying one of those horrible Line6 products (yes, opinionated).

AlanRatcliffe

My favourite altered tuning is E5: EBEBBE - tons of opportunity for drones and the 2nd and 3rd string being tuned in unison is very interesting.

The thing I love about altered tunings is it kick-starts your creativity - the "same old stuff" you've been playing for years magically becomes something else and, at the very least, starts you thinking along different lines than usual.

Bob Dubery wrote Returning to Led Zeppelin... I'm fairly sure that "Black Mountainside" and "Rain Song" are in DADGAD.

Black Mountainside is DADGAD, but Rain Song is an open Asus4: EADADE (and a lovely tuning it is too). On acoustic it's often better to tune down to DGCGCD and capo at the second to prevent the G and B strings from breaking.

FatBoy

Mmmm that Hipshot Trilogy thing looks awesome, only problem is it costs more than my Axe did!

Spyke

This is actually very interesting.

Alternate tunings is not something that I've really played around with. It was always standard EADGBE or drop D DADGBE. Sometimes half step down in my Nirvana days. Only recently (last two years) have I gone to drop C but that is still fairly standard IMHO.

I hear what you're saying about opening up new avenues to creativity, I did experience that with the drop D and the like. But I don't know if I'm brave enough (or varied enough) for the other alternates.

research here I come...

Squonk

@ Spyke Try DADGAD, lots of info on the net and if you like big fat D chords it's brilliant. Capo also works well. ?

Werner-Carstens

Hi sqounk, I might have to try DADGAD again. I read the other day that it is a preferred tuning for a lot of folk and celtic players. Having only one acoustic makes the retuning to standard a pain though and it is hard on the strings. mmm Maybe another acoustic might do it.

Squonk

@ Werner

My first attempts at DADGAD were terrible, after much perseverence I am slightly just beyond the ultimate beginner stage. What I found quite a good exercise was to find some simple chords songs and play them in DADGAD, also helped me find the the chord shapes etc.
But I think we will both be looking for another acoustic!! ?

Bob-Dubery

Spyke wrote This is actually very interesting.

Alternate tunings is not something that I've really played around with. It was always standard EADGBE or drop D DADGBE. Sometimes half step down in my Nirvana days. Only recently (last two years) have I gone to drop C but that is still fairly standard IMHO.

Is drop C
1) Like drop D but all strings a whole tone lower?
2) 6th string dropped down 2 whole tones and the other 5 left alone - giving us CADGBE?

Does you guitar stay in tune and intonate properly with the 6th string so low? A C on the 6th string is nearly in baritone territory.

Bob-Dubery

Alan Ratcliffe wrote My favourite altered tuning is E5: EBEBBE - tons of opportunity for drones and the 2nd and 3rd string being tuned in unison is very interesting.

Instant power chords as well.

The thing I love about altered tunings is it kick-starts your creativity - the "same old stuff" you've been playing for years magically becomes something else and, at the very least, starts you thinking along different lines than usual.

Alan Ratcliffe wrote Black Mountainside is DADGAD, but Rain Song is an open Asus4: EADADE (and a lovely tuning it is too). On acoustic it's often better to tune down to DGCGCD and capo at the second to prevent the G and B strings from breaking.

Rain Song is a lovely piece, and I've always loved the sound of the chords.

Generally I'm apprehensive of tuning UP. A while back I was trying to work out Dylan's "Buckets Of Rain". I got most of it with drop D, but a couple of things eluded me. A bit of googling revealed that he'd tuned one string UP. I can't afford to do that.

Spyke

Bob Dubery wrote Is drop C
1) Like drop D but all strings a whole tone lower?
2) 6th string dropped down 2 whole tones and the other 5 left alone - giving us CADGBE?

Does you guitar stay in tune and intonate properly with the 6th string so low? A C on the 6th string is nearly in baritone territory.

It's drop D, and then a whole step down. Leaving you with CGCFAD. System of a Down use it a lot.

It is very deep, and intonation isn't too bad. The trem on my Squier is set to drop only and the Epi is a stop tail.

john-goodenough

Hi Guys
I use open tunings all the time, and have the Trilogy on a tele.

Open G, as per my dobro, or open E, and drop D all at a flick of a wrist.
Its just the brain that doesn't click in immediately!
Practice,practice!

As I've mentioned in my intro, I also use Bigsby Palm Pedals, which bend individual strings up by a tone, or half a tone, depending on how you've set them up. Very interesting, and keeps the playing fresh for me.

Cheers
John

AlanRatcliffe

Bob Dubery wrote Instant power chords as well.

Damn! Busted! ? As an old rocker (who wears his hair too long and his trouser cuffs too tight) I do enjoy that aspect immensely. But it's the dissonance readily available by shifting a note a semitone or two that makes it my favourite tuning.

Rain Song is a lovely piece, and I've always loved the sound of the chords.

Me too. One of the very few pieces I ever took the time to learn note-for-note.

Generally I'm apprehensive of tuning UP.

A tone is usually OK, even on the G. I think if a string breaks when tuned up a tone, it was ready to go anyway.