Martin Simpson Guitar Tunings

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson Guitar Tunings
From: The Sandman
Date: 24 Jun 18 - 05:29 PM

he would have to use lighter treble strings for 123 strings dcg or certainly a lighter 2 string

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson Guitar Tunings
From: GUEST,Ken
Date: 24 Jun 18 - 12:51 AM

Red Roses - Band of Angels Tunings?? Anyone

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson Guitar Tunings
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Apr 18 - 10:46 AM

Well, I didn't hear anything particularly "left wing" or even egalitarian in his new writing, just the usual bad singer songwriter introspection. Very self absorbed, the antithesis of folk music really. Extremely disappointing, but I suppose you would enjoy that sort of thing?

from Akenaton, undeleted by Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson Guitar Tunings
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 17 Apr 18 - 06:05 AM

I saw last saw Martin around a year ago, and wile I was talking to him and a mutual friend, he was busy putting a set of D'Addarios on his guitar. I didn't ask about gauges, but I do know that, as Some Bloke says, he uses heavy bottoms and lighter tops.

With regard to tunings, get hold of his CDs - I'm sure Martin will appreciate that - the tunings are given in the notes.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson Guitar Tunings
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Apr 18 - 05:32 AM

Or put another way, he is left wing and a thread of equality exists in his wonderful lyrics.

Back in yer hole.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson Guitar Tunings
From: GUEST,akenaton
Date: 17 Apr 18 - 05:13 AM

Bit of drift here I'm afraid, just saw Martin in concert and spoke to him afterwards. I was really disappointed with is new writing which was extremely introspective and did not go down well with the audience. I have long been a fan of his playing and his treatment of songs by other writers, especially American stuff, but he is not a songwriter of any great stature.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson Guitar Tunings
From: GUEST,Some bloke
Date: 17 Apr 18 - 03:51 AM

He does use rather heavy gauge. Backwoodsman and I both know his guitar mechanic who, when I asked him to lower the action on a guitar I have told me Martin would want it raising if it were his....

He certainly used D’Addario when we had him last at Roots. One of my chores is to “leave the dressing rooms as we found them.” Incidentally, chatting during a sound check, Martin advised me, and by extension anyone who uses a thumb pick and just the pads of fingers to pick to use very heavy bass strings and lighter treble. I use .012 to .060. (Made up sets by Newtone.). If I have to buy off the shelf, most string manufacturers these days do what they call Bluegrass sets, .012 to .058.

Tunings? I’ve yet to hear him sing two songs consecutively in the same tuning....

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson Guitar Tunings
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 16 Apr 18 - 07:58 AM

Martin used to use D'Addario strings, as far as I'm aware he still does. Not sure about gauges.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson Guitar Tunings
From: gillymor
Date: 16 Apr 18 - 05:52 AM

Banks of the Bann, The Shearing's Not for You/Bogie's Bonnie Belle, Jock O'Hazeldean, The Bantry Girls Lament, all in Drop-D (DADGBE) and Garryowen (DADGAD).

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson Guitar Tunings
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 15 Apr 18 - 03:10 PM

Does anymore know what gauge and make/brand of strings he uses for these "Heavy on the Cs" turnings?

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson Guitar Tunings
From: GUEST,Ken
Date: 14 Apr 18 - 08:48 PM

Anyone know the tunings used on the Band of Angels Albums: Company you Keep, Red Roses. Seven Sisters etc?

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson Guitar Tunings
From: Anglo
Date: 07 Jul 10 - 12:43 PM

Kielder uses CGCFCD.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson Guitar Tunings
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jul 10 - 11:19 AM

anybody got the tuning for his kielder schottische?

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson Guitar Tunings
From: Nick
Date: 22 Jul 08 - 02:29 PM

Never any good with money I'm told is in CGCGCD and visually the shapes looked right so it probably is. It wasn't in that list unless I have the title wrong

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson Guitar Tunings
From: GUEST,Kevin Parker
Date: 22 Jul 08 - 01:46 PM

I was at a Martin Simpson workshop last year. He said that he uses two guitars, one for fingerpicking and one strung with heavier strings (15 gauge top) for slide playing. He then tunes the guitars for each song as required. He said he needs to plan his 'between song anecdotes' according to length of time taken to retune. Some of the tunings he uses are
DADGAD, CGDGCD, CGCGCD, DADGBE, DGDGBD, and DADGAC (laughingly described as 'Klingon tuning' - try saying it).

Of course, its not just the tunings that make the characteristic Simpson style, but the amount of work and rehearsal that goes into each arrangement...

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson Guitar Tunings
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jul 08 - 09:27 AM

Thanks everyone!
Johnny

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson Guitar Tunings
From: theleveller
Date: 22 Jul 08 - 09:21 AM

He writes a column in Acoustic magazine with tunings and tab. Well worth a look.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson Guitar Tunings
From: mattkeen
Date: 22 Jul 08 - 08:56 AM

And there are a lot of them (tunings I mean)

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson Guitar Tunings
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 22 Jul 08 - 08:38 AM

He usually puts the tuning for each song he's recorded on the sleeves of his CDs.

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson Guitar Tunings
From: mattkeen
Date: 22 Jul 08 - 08:36 AM

Martin does many many DVD about guitar technique etc
have a look at his web site

Subject: RE: Martin Simpson Guitar Tunings
From: the button
Date: 22 Jul 08 - 08:36 AM

Song by song here (although not covering most recent album): -

http://www.watershed-arts.com/tunings.html

Subject: Martin Simpson Guitar Tunings
From: GUEST,Johnny
Date: 22 Jul 08 - 08:20 AM

Anyone see Martin Simpson on Proms 08?
He used two guitars. What were the tunings does anyone know?