- Thread starter Pktaske
- Start date
kbaim
Well-known member
I mess around in a few alternate tunings and really love it. Mostly DADGAD (low to high). Also Open G (DGDGBD) and Em (EBEGBE).
But I find it next to impossible to improvise in non standard tunings so I stick to composing with much trial and error. But if you play with a tuning long enough, you can find some really fun grips that don't require hand contortion and still sound very dramatic.
If you're taking your playing in that direction, there's a useful book by Mark Hanson called ALTERNATE TUNING PICTURE CHORDS that has more tunings than you could ever use (a couple even with "C" in the bass!)
If anyone already enjoys fingerpicking, tuning the guitar different really pays off after a bit of experimentation. my .2 cents
Never really liked how acoustics felt, so I stick to electric all the time
But I find it next to impossible to improvise in non standard tunings so I stick to composing with much trial and error. But if you play with a tuning long enough, you can find some really fun grips that don't require hand contortion and still sound very dramatic.
If you're taking your playing in that direction, there's a useful book by Mark Hanson called ALTERNATE TUNING PICTURE CHORDS that has more tunings than you could ever use (a couple even with "C" in the bass!)
If anyone already enjoys fingerpicking, tuning the guitar different really pays off after a bit of experimentation. my .2 cents
Never really liked how acoustics felt, so I stick to electric all the time
thindave
Well-known member
I was just learning "Stay with Me" by The Small Faces and the main guitar is tuned to open E. Other than that, I pretty much stay standard...
Roubster
Well-known member
I am more strictly using standard tuning at this point, and the only time I use other open tunings is if I am learning a piece that requires it. For example on the classical guitar I use Eb Bb Eb G Bb Eb to play a piece by Mr. Morse called Modoc. I will also have to use another tuning for Rubina by Satch, but I dont know what tuning that is since I havent started learning it yet 
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.max cooper
Member
- Joined
- Nov 22, 2005
- Messages
- 5
I've used only non-standard tunings for years now. It started when I was working on an album and the producer wanted my guitar parts doubled with different voicings. It seemed pretty natural to me to start messing with different tunings.
The cool thing is that, as a songwriter, I usually have to sit down and play all the classic riffs I know before I can get to my own songs; but I don't know any of those songs in my non-standard tunings, so I go right to work.
It's amazing how changing one string by half of a step changes everything.
When you're using a non-standard tuning, you get used to the fact that there are some intervals you're never gonna reach, and then there are things you can do that you'd never be able to do with standard tuning. One tuning I use consists of E and B strings only. I can play a chord across all six strings with no thirds. Sometimes it's nice to not have to define a chord as major, minor, etc. The other great thing is finding new combinations of fretted/open strings. There are some real nice 'accidents' out there, waiting to happen.
The cool thing is that, as a songwriter, I usually have to sit down and play all the classic riffs I know before I can get to my own songs; but I don't know any of those songs in my non-standard tunings, so I go right to work.
It's amazing how changing one string by half of a step changes everything.
When you're using a non-standard tuning, you get used to the fact that there are some intervals you're never gonna reach, and then there are things you can do that you'd never be able to do with standard tuning. One tuning I use consists of E and B strings only. I can play a chord across all six strings with no thirds. Sometimes it's nice to not have to define a chord as major, minor, etc. The other great thing is finding new combinations of fretted/open strings. There are some real nice 'accidents' out there, waiting to happen.
thindave said:
You really from Manalapan? I'm in Monroe...come see my band and bring your balls! But I digress...
Is open E the same as Nashville tuning? EABEBE? I guess not as there's no G#.
www.stillsmallvoice.info
Colin
Well-known member
I have one guitar tuned to open G, and I'm a big fan of double drop D with my acoustic.
Colin
Colin
thindave
Well-known member
I am indeed sir - let me know when you're playing - send me a PM...
Correct again, the G needs to up a half step. I remember a Steve Howe intrumental from the GTR days was the same tuning...
Dave
Correct again, the G needs to up a half step. I remember a Steve Howe intrumental from the GTR days was the same tuning...
Dave
Pktaske said:
Tim O'Sullivan
Well-known member
Standard Tuning all the time, except a few tunes that require dropped D. All these funny tunings do my head in!
Spudmurphy
Well-known member
Pktaske said:
I use open E and open A for my slide playing, especially when I'm playing Sonny Landreth stuff.
Nashville tuning is when you string a guitar with the top E + B normally but the G D A & E stings are from a 12 string pack and are therefore one octave higher.
Albert Lee demos this tuning in one of his DVD tutorials and is great for fingerpicking and strumming. It's got such a nice sound !!!
Sonny Spud Murphy
LasagneFTW
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2005
- Messages
- 121
i enjoy the occasional DADFAE or DADFAD, after learning some Opeth songs.
ripley
Well-known member
I've been strictly using DADGAD on my Adamas for about 6 years now. it allows for some really bizarre major/monor turnarounds and once you get away from open suspended chords, you can find some fantastic, screwy voicings with it that lead right back to more traditional ones without drastic fingering odification.
2 years ago I started keeping at least one electric tuned to it and when you lay on a lot of gain, the overtones just fall all over each other and sound HUGE without canceling each other out or getting too wonky. I highly recommend it.
2 years ago I started keeping at least one electric tuned to it and when you lay on a lot of gain, the overtones just fall all over each other and sound HUGE without canceling each other out or getting too wonky. I highly recommend it.
