G'day Magpie.
I found that one way to get your head and ear around alternate tunings like DADGAD is to find a song or tune that is played in that tuning that you REALLY want to learn and then stick at it 'till you get it
One that works for me is Stan Rogers' Lock Keeper. I have set it out below (hope I have the breaks right joe) Regards Ted. Lock Keeper

THE LOCK-KEEPER: (Stan Rogers)
(DADGAD tuning - Capo on 2 - Key of E)

DADGAD CHORDS (Capo on 2)

E C#min C#min/B A
000200 024400 004400 550400

A (alternate) B B (Alternate)
020000 002002 770600

F#min Esus4 E2 E3
222000 005000 002000 004000


(riff is on the middle "D" string and goes 5-4-0-5-4-0)


INTRO: E (Riff) C#min A B Esus4 E2 E3 E

E
You say "Well met again, Lock-keeper!
C#m C#m/B A
We're laden even deeper then the time before.
F#m B E (Riff)
Oriental oils and teas brought down from Singapore!"
E
As we wait for my lock to cycle
C#m C#m/B A
I say "My wife has just given me a son."
F#m B E
"A son!" you cry, "Is that all that you've done?"

She wears bouganvillia blossoms.
You pluck 'em from her hair and toss them in the tide,
Sweep her in your arms and carry her inside,

Her sighs catch on your shoulder,
Her moonlit eyes grow cold and wiser through her tears,
And I say, "How could you stand to leave her for a year?"

A
"Then come with me" you say,
F#m
"To where the Southern Cross
B E
Rides high upon your shoulder..."
C#m C#m/B
"Come with me" you cry,
A F#m Bsus4 B
Each day you tend this lock, you're one day older,
C#m C#m/B A B
While your blood grows colder..."
E
But that anchor chain's a fetter,
C#m C#m/B A
And with it you are tethered to the foam,
F#m B E
And I wouldn't trade your life for one hour of home..

Sure I'm stuck here on the Seaway
While you compensate for leeway through the trades,
And you shoot the stars to see the miles you've made,
And you laugh at hearts you've riven,
But which of them has given us more love or life,
You, your tropic maids, or me, my wife...

"Then come with me" you say,
"To where the Southern Cross
Rides high upon your shoulder..."
"Ah come with me" you cry,
"Each day you tend this lock, you're one day older,
While your blood grows colder..."
But that anchor chain's a fetter,
And with it you are tethered to the foam,
And I wouldn't trade your life for one hour of home..
But your anchor chain's a fetter,
And with it you are tethered to the foam,
And I wouldn't trade your whole life for
one hour of home..