Chord Req: Lizzie Lindsay in DADGAD tuning

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Lizzie Lindsay in DADGAD tuning
From: GUEST,johnmc
Date: 08 Sep 25 - 08:19 AM

https://youtu.be/XUKXdLLlTFg

Robin Williamson favourite in waltz time, Dadagad.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Lizzie Lindsay in DADGAD tuning
From: The Sandman
Date: 07 Sep 25 - 04:59 PM

Skarpi is singular. one person not a group.
lizzie lindsay can be played effectively in any tuning, standard drop d d open g or anything else depending on the skill of the musician.
it is all down to the musician.not the tuning

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Lizzie Lindsay in DADGAD tuning
From: GUEST,johnmc
Date: 07 Sep 25 - 11:06 AM

Yes. I'm sure skarpi can decide for themselves.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Lizzie Lindsay in DADGAD tuning
From: The Sandman
Date: 07 Sep 25 - 02:47 AM

a few of these answers remind me of, Someone asking the way to a destination and the reply, I would not start from here ,if i was you

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Lizzie Lindsay in DADGAD tuning
From: The Sandman
Date: 07 Sep 25 - 02:37 AM

My advice skarpi, is to enjoy your music and ignore other people preferences

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Lizzie Lindsay in DADGAD tuning
From: GUEST,johnmc
Date: 05 Sep 25 - 05:59 PM

Going back to the initial post, I was really asking for an example of song accompaniment.
Also, I said I felt DADGAD was not as effective, not that it was impossible.
As I said, a purely personal view based on my preference for normal tuning
in that context ( a waltz).
   Reason ? I prefer the simplicity of bass note and diatonic chord;
the "modal" sound doesn't appeal so much to me here.
Grateful, nevertheless, for the clip.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Lizzie Lindsay in DADGAD tuning
From: The Sandman
Date: 05 Sep 25 - 04:58 PM

how does the tuning affect the ability of the guitarist to play competently in waltz time? here is a clip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZRwOjKeb4A

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Lizzie Lindsay in DADGAD tuning
From: GUEST,johnmc
Date: 05 Sep 25 - 09:04 AM

I think my comment was influenced by the fact that I couldn't think of an example
from recordings. I would be grateful if anyone can find one.
6/8 excluded.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Lizzie Lindsay in DADGAD tuning
From: GUEST,The Sandman
Date: 30 Aug 25 - 05:10 PM

I think that right hand guitar technique, has nothing to do with choice of tuning, why would it not work in dadgad, playing in waltz time should work perfectly well in any tuning, DEPENDENT ON THE PLAYERS RIGHT HAND COMPETENCE

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Lizzie Lindsay in DADGAD tuning
From: GUEST,Lazarus
Date: 29 Aug 25 - 04:48 AM

A matter of opinion.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Lizzie Lindsay in DADGAD tuning
From: skarpi
Date: 29 Aug 25 - 04:28 AM

Well it works

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Lizzie Lindsay in DADGAD tuning
From: GUEST,johnmc
Date: 28 Aug 25 - 07:47 AM

Just my opinion, but if you are playing this in waltz time, I don't think DADGAD is
effective.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Lizzie Lindsay in DADGAD tuning
From: skarpi
Date: 22 Aug 25 - 01:46 PM

John, yes its Robert Burns.
How is Scotland today.

All the best Skarpi Iceland

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Lizzie Lindsay in DADGAD tuning
From: Robert B. Waltz
Date: 22 Aug 25 - 11:11 AM

Johhn MacKenzie wrote:

The lyrics quoted were I believe by Robert Burns, and as such the title is Leezie Lindsay.

Not exactly. Yes, that chorus is found in the Burns fragment.

But if you look only at the versions in Bronson (let alone the 74 versions in the Roud Index), you will find that chorus, almost exact except for the way they transcribe the Scots, not only in Bronson's #1 (Burns) but in Bronson's #2 (Cox, which does have one difference: it uses "wife" for "bride"), #3 (Child), #4 (Smith: "pride" for "bride"), #5 (Maver), and #6 (Barry, Eckstorm, and Smythe).

Most of these title it "Leezie Lindsay," but not all.

There is no standard spelling of her name. So I used Child's collective spelling of the name, and the most typical spellings of Braid Scots I could.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Lizzie Lindsay in DADGAD tuning
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 22 Aug 25 - 10:06 AM

The lyrics quoted were I believe by Robert Burns, and as such the title is Leezie Lindsay. There are other versions with different words and much lnger too.


https://www.contemplator.com/child/leezie.html

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Lizzie Lindsay in DADGAD tuning
From: skarpi
Date: 21 Aug 25 - 04:02 PM

I am slow learning, DADGAD is great for fiddle tunes, and some songs like Lizzie Lindsay. But I also play open G, Open E, and Dropped D.
But most in standard tuning.

but less is more some say.

So all the best Skarpi Iceland

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Lizzie Lindsay in DADGAD tuning
From: GUEST,Jerry
Date: 20 Aug 25 - 10:22 AM

Agreed, most melodies and scale patterns are actually easier to find and play in standard tuning, which is probably why most of us return to that having dabbled with open tunings. Open G and open D are great for slide playing of course, but if you want to play ragtime and country blues, then it really only works in standard (plus dropped D) tuning. I have to say I quite liked DGDGBbD tuning years back, though it is rather limiting, and that too works well for five string banjo.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Lizzie Lindsay in DADGAD tuning
From: The Sandman
Date: 20 Aug 25 - 08:07 AM

it is possible to play melodies easily in standard tuning using Carter style in c major and g major, or john hurt or mance,lipscomb style with thumb playing bass, and fingers picking tune
DADGAD is hard work if you want to play ragtime,
As regards open tunings i prefer, dgdgcd, which can then be Easily adapted to 5 string banjo as sawmill tuning

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Lizzie Lindsay in DADGAD tuning
From: GUEST,Jerry
Date: 20 Aug 25 - 03:25 AM

This thread is tempting me to go back and explore DADGAD, but agree that this tuning is best for evocative fingerstyle accompaniments, or instrumentals, but not as some think just a lazy way of playing basic chords in D major, although there lots of extended chord voicing possible that you just can’t finger in standard tuning. It also helps in getting away from thinking in rigid chord progressions, which can tend to put songs in a strait jacket, which arguably our predecessors would not have done.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Lizzie Lindsay in DADGAD tuning
From: Robert B. Waltz
Date: 19 Aug 25 - 09:19 PM

Sol wrote, FWIW, I've always known it as "Leezie Lindsay" although Wiki says it is also known as 'Lizie' or 'Lizzie' Lindsay.

The name is of course being spelled according to whatever phonetic or orthographic rules the transcriber used. Child called it "Lizie Lindsay," which distorts the record, but Roud attests all the following titles:

BONNIE LIZIE LINDSAY
BONNIE LIZZIE LINDSAY
BONNY LIZIE LINDSAY
DONALD MACDONALD
DONALD OF THE ISLES
LEESIE LINDSAY
LEEZIE LINDSAY
LIZIE LINDSAY
LIZZIE LINDSAY
LIZZIE LINZIE
LIZZY LINDSAY
LORD RONALD
LORD RONALD MACDONALD
NEW YEALAND
SIR DONALD AND ELIZA LINDSAY
WILL YE GANG TO THE HIGHLANDS
WILL YE GO TO THE HIELANDS LIZZIE LINDSAY

Not much standardization there. :-)

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Lizzie Lindsay in DADGAD tuning
From: Sol
Date: 19 Aug 25 - 09:00 PM

FWIW, I've always known it as "Leezie Lindsay" although Wiki says it is also known as 'Lizie' or 'Lizzie' Lindsay.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Lizzie Lindsay in DADGAD tuning
From: The Sandman
Date: 19 Aug 25 - 09:08 AM

Pierre Bensusan has explored this tuning in great depth, the tuning has its limitations as well its advantages.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Lizzie Lindsay in DADGAD tuning
From: Robert B. Waltz
Date: 18 Aug 25 - 02:08 PM

This may not be welcome, but a general comment on DADGAD tuning:

This is an extremely modal tuning. You use it only in the key of D, and not even in the relative minor (Bm). When I suggested above that you need only three chords in DADGAD, this is generally true -- even for songs that use more chords in other tunings.

But DADGAD isn't really a tuning where one should think in chords. Note that the basic D chord in DADGAD needs only one finger; it's chorded 000200. And this gives you the notes DADAAD. A modal D -- no third.

Which means it has drone strings everywhere. It's basically a mountain dulcimer tuning. You get maximum "Scottishness" out of it by not playing chords. You play the melody and let the strings drone.

As an experiment, I just played through two of my favorite DADGAD tunes, "Bonnie Susie Cleland" and "A Man's A Man for A' That," and was fingering only one string for about 75% of both songs. There are times when you need more (particularly for the IV chord, which is the hardest in DADGAD). But for notes that sound on the I or V chords, it's usually better to just play the melody and let the drones sound.

OK, chord theory lecture mode OFF. :-)

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Lizzie Lindsay in DADGAD tuning
From: skarpi
Date: 18 Aug 25 - 05:12 AM

Right after sitting over this for 2 hours, I got it thanks. It is with all kinds of extra notes and the picking is nice in DADGAD.

all the best Skarpi

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Lizzie Lindsay in DADGAD tuning
From: skarpi
Date: 18 Aug 25 - 03:21 AM

Thanks Robert, I need more chords in it than 3.


All the best.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Lizzie Lindsay in DADGAD tuning
From: Reinhard
Date: 18 Aug 25 - 03:20 AM

That's just a different spelling, Gallus Moll. In Child, #226 is titled "Lizie Lindsay", and the first line of Child 226A is "Out it spake Lizee Linzee".

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Lizzie Lindsay in DADGAD tuning
From: GUEST,Gallus Moll
Date: 18 Aug 25 - 02:37 AM

Leezie Lindsay!!

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Lizzie Lindsay in DADGAD tuning
From: Robert B. Waltz
Date: 17 Aug 25 - 07:59 PM

Yes, DADGAD tuning is different. That's why I gave you the chord patterns! Retune to DADGAD (which is a D tuning; you don't use it for any other key) and capo 5, which means you will he playing in G.

Then play in the positions I gave you:

D: 000200 or 004200

G: 020020

A: x0220x or x02242

So the D positions will sound a G, the G positions will sound as C, and the A positions will sound as D.

So this would sound as


         G
Will ye gang tae the Hielands, Lizie Lindsay?
                                  C
Will ye gang tae the Hielands wi' me?
         G
Will ye gang tae the Hielands, Lizie Lindsay?
    C            D          G
My bride and my darlin' tae be?

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Lizzie Lindsay in DADGAD tuning
From: skarpi
Date: 17 Aug 25 - 07:45 PM

No it does not help,
I also play it EADGBE, in G.

But DADGAD tuning is diffrent, I
Also tried DADGBD with capo on 5th, and it works almost, need a little workout.

Thanks for that:)

All the best.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Lizzie Lindsay in DADGAD tuning
From: Robert B. Waltz
Date: 17 Aug 25 - 07:29 PM

I'm not sure what your question is, so I'll answer two questions. :-)

In D positions (a very high key, which presumably explains the capoing, the chord pattern for Lizie Lindsay as I learned it is


         D
Will ye gang tae the Hielands, Lizie Lindsay?
                                  G
Will ye gang tae the Hielands wi' me?
         D
Will ye gang tae the Hielands, Lizie Lindsay?
    G            A          D
My bride and my darlin' tae be?


The basic DADGAD chords are D, G, and A, which are made as follows (frets counting from the low D string to the high D string)

D: 000200 or 004200 (you will want the second form to be able to play F# notes)

G: 020020

A: x0220x or x02242

Incidentally, there is a thing called a third hand capo which capos only the second, third, and fourth strings. Put it on the second fret and it gives you (almost) the equivalent of a DADGAD-tuned instrument only with a base note of E: EBEABE. Since you're capoing anyway, you could put a normal capo on the third fret and the third hand capo on the fifth fret and not have to re-tune. With the third hand capo, the chords for DADGAD/EABEBE as it works in the key of E are

E: 000200 or 004200

A: Play as if it were a G chord: 320003

B: x0220x

I hope that helps.

Subject: Chord Req: Lizzie Lindsay in DADGAD tuning
From: skarpi
Date: 17 Aug 25 - 06:44 PM

Hallo, I am playing with scottish fiddle player, a lovely lady.
we would like to play this song in dadgad, witch is kind a new for me.
So I was wonder if any of you had ever done that with this song ?
I do it G, in dadgad with capo on fith fred, the little I know of it.

All the best Skarpi Iceland