Help with 'Drop D' tuning?

Subject: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: Lane
Date: 15 Jan 02 - 10:03 PM

Hey... I have recently found the "drop D" tuning and I like it... nice sound. But then, I have to admit this is the first time I've messed with those little knobs up on the end of the stick....I've also found that there are chords and strings that can be played above the 4th fret - uncharted waters for me..... SO... I'd like to learn about more chords and stuff that I can play in this tuning - or heck, I might even want to learn some other tunings, well... if I dont' have to mess with TOO many of the knob things.....

Thanks!

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: Bobert
Date: 15 Jan 02 - 10:10 PM

Forget "drop D" and just go to an E or G tuning. Drop D is very limited and if you're going to play with open tuning, drop the training wheels. And buy a slide and get there just that much quicker. It's easy....

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: catspaw49
Date: 15 Jan 02 - 10:10 PM

Lane, for a starter, enter the word tuning in the filter box and set the refresh for 3 years.....You'll get lots of tuning discussions including opens and drop D.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: marty D
Date: 15 Jan 02 - 10:29 PM

Good luck with it Lane. Catspaw's right, there are probably a dozen 'drop D' threads here. I may have STARTED a few of them!

Ignore the 'training wheels' comment. Dropped D can be a lot of fun, and if played right, it sounds beautiful. It has nothing to do with slide guitar. It DOES take subtlety tho'.

marty

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: John Hardly
Date: 15 Jan 02 - 10:38 PM

Lane,

...what catspaw said. You won't believe what a treasure of threads there is on this topic!

I am a huge fan of regular Drop-D (where only the low E string is lowered to D). At times I feel like that should have been "standard tuning" for the guitar -- like when I'm playing "Butcher Boy, Shady Grove, Soldier's Joy, Red-Haired Boy, even Arkansas Traveler -- it's a tuning that can make all those fiddle tunes sound fuller when playing without accompaniment.

The easy way to deal with the chords is to simply play all the regular chords but remember to accomodate for the two step jump on that E string -- thus a good G is 550033

Another way to get that pleasant drop D sound but not have to alter your regular chording (left hand) is to either turn a Kyser capo upside down and cover the A through high E strings with it at the second fret (kyser and others make a shortened capo for this -- you can pay more for it or saw one off yourself if you like the sound).

Some tunes I play in Drop D that many don't think of as drop D --
Castles In The Air --McLean
Lighthouse and Millworker --Taylor
St Judy's Comet --Simon

Have fun!

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: Justa Picker
Date: 15 Jan 02 - 10:39 PM

Lane,
Bookmark this website. There's a lot of really good information there. Drop D, is loads of fun, and you can create a lot of interesting sounds in this tuning. It's also great for playing finger style blues in. (Blind Blake and others used it alot.) Best of luck!

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 15 Jan 02 - 10:39 PM

The two songs from the 70's that come to mind right away are "Peacfull easly Feeling" and "Angle from Montgomery" for this tuning. Think of the first four strings as in G tuning or look at a banjo chord book for some ideas up the neck.. Having the fith string an A is alot of fun cauce you can kind of do a C cord ( Staying away from the first and sixth string ) I use this tuning for "Crazy Man Micheil" from Fairport Convention. Just remember a tuning is just a tuning . Each one has a voice and can lend a ton of depth to very specsific songs. I hope you have fun , All the best , Guy
<><><>>><><><><><><><><><><>>><>>>>>>>>>>><>><.

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: Bobert
Date: 15 Jan 02 - 10:47 PM

Ignore the "ignore the" advice, Lane. If you can play Drop D, then its not that much further to a G or E tuning and then you can eliminate one middle man in your development as an open tuning player. Come back to Drop D after you have figured out G and E and then what Marty says will make more sense. It is a tuning that while easily played by people who have little experience it also can be played beautifully by folks who have figured out a few things with open tunings in general, especially with the top strings.

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: GUEST,frankie
Date: 15 Jan 02 - 11:08 PM

John Miller, one of my favorite musicians, supposedly called Drop-D "God's own tuning" and I agree. It's extremely versatile, you can use it to make effective arrangements of fiddle tunes, Irish and Scottish dance tunes and airs, blues, jazz standards (Miller's done a lot of them),gospel,blues, Calyso and probably a lot of other stuff. Joseph Spence, the great Bahamian guitarist, used it exclusively.
I'm not sure what kind of music you're into but some good jumping off points for you might be Willie McTell's "Statesboro Blues" and Pete Seeger's "Living in the Country" which a lot of budding fingerpickers cut their teeth on. Good luck, frankie

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: Lane
Date: 15 Jan 02 - 11:33 PM

Wow! Approaching information overload - but keep it coming! I didn't particularly appreciate the training wheels remark, but I take it in context, given the later message and yes, Bobert, I'll look at G and E tuning as well 'cause I don't want to limit myself - can you point me to info on them? Now...I do like the sound that I'm getting in this tuning.... I've been learning "Darcy Farrow" with it and love it....JOHN - you mentioned Castles in the Air - I love that one - do you have tab, chords in drop D? And someone mentioned a Seeger tune, I'm a big fan of his as well.... OK.. I'll go back and re-read the posts and try to absorb them... SPAW - good info, as always, thank you... .Justa - I'm on the way to that web site (and still love your do on Bluebell)

Lane

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 16 Jan 02 - 03:21 AM

Frankie, is that John Miller from Seattle? What a gem...incredible guitarist, brilliant arranger, excellent teacher (used to be on the staff at the Puget Sound Guitar Workshop, and maybe still is), and a genuinely nice guy. He used to play in a band that Kim Scanlon sang in....would you happen know where Kim is? (Another gem!)

Aloha,
Mark (sorry for the thread creep, but I do miss the Seattle music scene!)

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 16 Jan 02 - 05:11 AM

I've been playing in dropped D for longer than I care to remember (perhaps 25 years) and whilst it does have limitations and problems e.g. playing along with tunes when the key changes !! I find it suits me. It's especially effective with a capo on fret 7 (playing in A) giving a nice drone effect. Like everything else it's down to choice. I got very annoyed when someone (not on the folk scene) once commented Why don't you learn to play proper ? I'm comfortable with it and it suits me so what the heck !!

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: Mooh
Date: 16 Jan 02 - 08:56 AM

Then there's "virtual drop D" tuning. A capo across strings one to five (inclusive) at the second fret. Actually gives an E tuning if you play the open D chord form relative to the capo, but strum all the strings so that there's a low root note on the sixth string. Other chords are still played as if in standard because it is still standard tuning. String up with medium guage strings, tune down a whole step, try this capo trick and you're still in D.

Btw, in the violin family world there are instruments with longer scale lengths for one or more strings on the same instrument. This increases the range and applicability of an instrument in the same way as the capoed virtual tuning.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: John Hardly
Date: 16 Jan 02 - 10:11 AM

DAMN!


Another way to get that pleasant drop D sound but not have to alter your regular chording (left hand) is to either turn a Kyser capo upside down and cover the A through high E strings with it at the second fret (kyser and others make a shortened capo for this -- you can pay more for it or saw one off yourself if you like the sound). to quote myself.

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: John Hardly
Date: 16 Jan 02 - 10:13 AM

oh, and I will try to work out at least the chord to "Castles In The Air" for you Lane.

just had to bitch a bit for having been shit on.

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: M.Ted
Date: 16 Jan 02 - 11:36 AM

A lot of the current alternative rock players use Drop D--it can be particularly effective on an electric, (specially with a bit of palm damping)--They love to double stop the Low D and A String and slide it up and down the neck--instant Nirvana! (You can triple stop, on the D-A-D strings and get the Velvet Underground Ostrich Guitar effect)

Play your favorite Chuck Berry licks using the three finger F chord position on the tenth fret fret, and you'll discover that it is possible for an unaccompanied acoustic guitarist to play leads without wimping out!

It gives you the added options of open tuning, but without the need for a time consuming full re-tuning--only thing, hope you can sing in D!!

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: Don Firth
Date: 16 Jan 02 - 12:16 PM

There are a lot of classic guitar pieces that use drop D tuning. Many, but not all, are lute transcriptions.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: Deckman
Date: 16 Jan 02 - 12:54 PM

I LOVE dropped D tuning. I use it a lot on slower ballads, like Peter Amberly. I also like the combination of upper regester D,A,and G chords in combination with the low D note. It really adds a grounding balance, I think. Enjoy it! CHEERS, Bob

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: Roughyed
Date: 16 Jan 02 - 03:28 PM

There's a Haydn piece (Il distratto, I think it's called) where the violins play one movement with their bottom strings dropped down a tone to F. They start the next movement full belt but as if they have forgotten the strings tuned down and they have to tune the string up as they play. Good sense of humour that Haydn, but interesting that it's not just folkies that do that dropped bass thing

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: Tony-W
Date: 16 Jan 02 - 03:54 PM

Ahh, I've got to compose a piece of music for music GCSE, and this could be very helpful. I wish i understood it :)

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: M.Ted
Date: 16 Jan 02 - 04:01 PM

What's music GCSE?

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: Tony-W
Date: 16 Jan 02 - 04:31 PM

Well at the age of 14 you have to choose certain subjects at school that you want to carry on with and eventually you get an exam in those subjects, and i chose music. The exam is the GCSE bit, once you've taken it you have a GCSE in that subject. It stands for something but i dont know what.

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: M.Ted
Date: 16 Jan 02 - 05:22 PM

I am not sure how much use this will be, unless you are writing for the guitar, but good luck--

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: van lingle
Date: 16 Jan 02 - 10:45 PM

Hi Mark, We're probably talking about the same John Miller as I believe he's based in Seattle now. He recorded a couple of great LP's for Rounder in the 70's, one a collection of Gershwin tunes and songs and the other called "Safe Sweet Home" which is about my favorite guitar record. Before that he recorded for Blue Goose. Those LP's were largely country blues along with some hymns, old pop tunes, and some old time music. Oh yeah and he also played bass in Country Cooking. He's one of the few players I've heard who had mastered Blind Blakes' style and made it swing so effortlessly all the while putting his own stamp on it. More recently he recorded a fine collection of standards with the singer Rebecca Kilgore and seems to have adopted a more succinct and percussive style. The CD is called Easy to Remember and I've played it to death. Whoa, major thread creep.
One way to expand the vocal possiblities in Drop-D,besides using a capo, is to use it to play tunes in A. When going to the V chord (E) just put your thumb over the low D at the 2nd fret to get the low E bass.

Van Lingle, aka frankie

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: Lane
Date: 16 Jan 02 - 11:38 PM

John.... please do pass on Castles in The Air, if you can....

Now... I've been trying the capo on strings A thru E on the second fret.... it isn't working, the 6th (now D) string sounds terrible... any idea what I'm doing wrong? I'm playing a D chord position, above the capo on fret 2.... what am I missing???

Thanks to all of you for your replies.. I'm getting a ton out of your comments...

Lane

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: van lingle
Date: 17 Jan 02 - 12:04 AM

Lane when doing that trick you leave your guitar in standard tuning (don't lower the Low E). Van

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: Lane
Date: 17 Jan 02 - 12:09 AM

AHHHH! (DUH)

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 17 Jan 02 - 07:24 AM

G'day,

It's been interesting to read this thread. By coincidence, I had e-mail contact with someone in US who had the e-mail address beginning DADGBE~. After the main matter of discussion I asked if this was a guitar tuning he favoured and practiced ... Indeed yes ... small discussion of what I now note is the "drop D" tuning I see mentioned at times.

Although I decided to head in non-guitar directions some decades back ... I had, from basic musical pronciples seen the attraction and approach of this tuning - and immediately thought that there would be a vast gulf in perception and approach between its practionaers and those of "open (chord) tunings".

I am interested to see, so soon afterwards, confirmation of this theory and all its impications!

Regard(les)s,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 17 Jan 02 - 07:39 AM

I was once courted, if that's the right word, by a fiddle player who was thinking of getting rid of his guitarist. Now as I've intimated in previous threads, I consider myself a singer who plays a bit of guitar and although he wanted me for my voice, instrumental accompaniment was part of the group. I have no problem playing along to tunes and indeed think that drop D is effective I consider myself to be reasonable at accompaniment. However the said group leader was insistant that he wanted me to play in DADGAD cos that's how 'the Irish guitarists play'. He wasn't prepared to adapt to 'the style' I had achieved which could have been effective. Needless to say I didn't join the group.He went through two more guitarists before settling on someone ( another friend who was shit hot !!) and that guitarist told him he would only play in normal tuning !! and did it well.

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: Mooh
Date: 17 Jan 02 - 08:01 AM

John Hardly,

I don't know how you figure you've been "shit on". After all, though I did omit an acknowledgement of your remarks, I did add something else worthwhile. Sounds like discussion to me.

Mooh.

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: Midchuck
Date: 17 Jan 02 - 09:21 AM

I don't retune. I use the Keyser "Drop D" capoes a lot, for playing in E (or F or G, using the drop D capo 2 frets above a "normal" capo. They're also good for A or Bb or B or C, using G chords. (You get a very nice 1-5 bass by just playing the low E, in normal G chord position, fretted at the "third" fret, then lifting off and playing the same string open at the 3 beat.)

I like to play in DADGAD, but I prefer to leave a guitar tuned that way. Some guitars - those with exceptional "ring" or sustain - sound better that way than in regular old fuddy-duddy tuning. I used to have a Seagull 12 that was great for that, but I got tired of tuning 12 strings and sold it. Now my Taylor 414 serves that purpose. This also gives you the option of using heavier strings on the strings that are tuned down.

I thought it would be fun to get a Takoma "Papoose" (they're made to be tuned five frets high, A-to-A) and tune it GDGCDG, to be able to use DADGAD chords in more keys, but I probably wouldn't use it enough to justify the cost...

Peter.

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: John Hardly
Date: 17 Jan 02 - 01:36 PM

"Sounds like discussion to me" –mooh Albeit, an impolite one.

Castles in the Air by: Don McLean

INTRO
(based on a loose, folk-style travis picking)
XXX2XX XXXX0X XXXX3X 220030 X0203(H2) XXXX0X 0XX232 <------REPEAT
Slide into 0X0775 0X0675 0X0453 0X0232

And [0X0775] if she asks you [0X0675] why, you can [0X0453] tell her that I [0X0232] told you
That I'm [220030] tired of [X0203(H2)]castles in [XXXX0X] the [0X0232]air. [0X02(H3)2]
I've got a [220030] dream I [X0203(H2)] want the world [XXXX0X]to [0X0232] share [0X02(H3)2]
And castle [220030] walls just [X0203(H2)] lead me to [slide to --> 0X0775]despair. [0X0675] [0X0453] [0X0232]

Hills of forest green where the mountains touch the sky,
A dream come true, I'll live there till I die.
I'm asking you to say my last goodbye.
The love we knew ain't worth another try.

[550033] [4XXXXX] Save [222000] me from all the [X02020]trouble and the [0X0232] pain.
I know I'm [550033] [4XXXXX]weak, but [333000] I can't face that girl a- [X02020]gain. [X0203X] [X02030][X0203(H2)]
[550033] [4XXXXX] Tell [333000] her the reasons [X02020]why I can't [0X0232]remain,
Perhaps she'll [550033][4XXXXX]understand if you tell it to her [X0202X]plain. [X0203X] [X0203(H2)]

But how can words express the feel of sunlight in the morning,
In the hills, away from city strife.
I need a country woman for my wife;
I'm city born, but I love the country life.

For I cannot be part of the cocktail generation:
Partners waltz, devoid of all romance.
The music plays and everyone must dance.
I'm bowing out. I need a second chance.

Hope this works for you. (H2) means to hammer-on on the fret numbered.

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: Mooh
Date: 17 Jan 02 - 03:13 PM

John,

Get a grip, for heaven's sake!

Mooh.

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: M.Ted
Date: 17 Jan 02 - 03:23 PM

I re-read the thread, and still have know idea what the fuss is about--

Damn you for posting that, John;-) I had been planning to do my laundry this afternoon!

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: catspaw49
Date: 17 Jan 02 - 03:28 PM

The best reason NOT to use the DADGAD tuning is the need for those special glasses. If you lose your pair, there's nothing to do but retune to standard.......

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: Mooh
Date: 17 Jan 02 - 03:30 PM

(M.Ted, me neither, except that I felt I was accused of shitting on a member and being impolite. Otherwise, no fuss.)

I discovered this afternoon a book of praise songs (brought in by a guitar student of mine) with alot of drop D arrangements. I failed to get the title etc, but I was wondering if drop tunings are a trend in music of praise. There sure are alot of people playing in/for church these days.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 17 Jan 02 - 03:34 PM

OK, in view of the dispute above, here is one for the archivist thread searchers.. Who was the first person on Mudcat to mention the "partial capo at the second fret? ". in a guitar thread?

It might have been me. I'm not saying it was, but if not then I would love to know who it was.

Murray

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: Mooh
Date: 17 Jan 02 - 03:38 PM

12th Fret in Toronto has a Kubicki Bass for sale (second hand I think) today. It has a built in extra fret (like I alluded to in an above posting in regards to violin family instruments) for the lowest string, and an integral capo-like mechanism. My question? What name does this mechanism have, if any? This would be cooler (to me at least) than the drop tuners that are available. Does anyone market a guitar with such a thing?

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: Mooh
Date: 17 Jan 02 - 03:42 PM

Good question Murray! I've only been around here a couple of years so it's not likely me, though I've been partial capoing/virtual tuning for many years. We've talked about it alot here in the past. This'll make a good read!

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: M.Ted
Date: 17 Jan 02 - 03:49 PM

Seems like there was someone that used the handle "Partial Capo at Second" but it might have been "Parietal Capo and Seconal" hard to remember, what with all the comings and goings--

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: catspaw49
Date: 17 Jan 02 - 04:21 PM

Murray, Mooh, Ted, and John........

First, the problem John had there is a common one around here and that's not acknowledging a previous post when expanding on it. Sometimes it just PO's you as though what you have to say isn't important. Maybe it's a nitpick, but it does give you a worthless feel when you post something and then soeone else says the same thing like, "I know you may have said it, but I'll say it better and I'm more believable." Not worth an argument guys, just something that happens that some are less aware of than others.

Next.....Mooh, it wasn't you that mentioned it first re: the partial capo. The first reference I can find to anything pertaining to the use in Drop D is by Mudjack on November 1, 1999. Mooh brought it up again in July of 2000.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: Arbuthnot
Date: 17 Jan 02 - 04:58 PM

Bert Jansch used drop D a lot - best version of Black Waterside I ever heard. Lots of jazz players use drop D exclusively, eg. Howard Roberts (as in Moonlight In Vermont).

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: Mooh
Date: 17 Jan 02 - 05:21 PM

Spaw, et al,

Agreed and acknowledged, with apologies. We've ALL (I'd have rather done that in italics but I forget how) felt that way at some time here.

I didn't figure it was me who first mentioned virtual-partiality (huh?) but it's one of my favorite subjects. I bumped into someone just a few days ago who said he saw me do a festival workshop about them round about '93ish, and I can say that there was an older gentleman there who had been doing it for decades. There's nothing new under the sun, as my grandmother would say, and we keep reinventing things. I like to think that if I could study ancient stringed instruments full-time I could rediscover lost things, but I'm not sure I'd recognize real invention from any age.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: Lane
Date: 17 Jan 02 - 09:39 PM

John, THANK YOU for Castles in the Air - much appreciated and I'm off to my Martin to try it out..... if I can get it....

ALL - I am getting a great deal out of this thread and greatly appreciate the info - THANK YOU.... though I could really do without the sideline pissing matches, if you don't mind -

My original question, I think, was about chord positions that I can use in Drop D and/or other pointers that will help me learn to play in this - licks, melody lines, whatever....

Thank you all, so much!

Lane

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: Lane
Date: 17 Jan 02 - 09:41 PM

John, THANK YOU for Castles in the Air - much appreciated and I'm off to my Martin to try it out..... if I can get it....

ALL - I am getting a great deal out of this thread and greatly appreciate the info - THANK YOU.... though I could really do without the sideline pissing matches, if you don't mind -

My original question, I think, was about chord positions that I can use in Drop D and/or other pointers that will help me learn to play in this - licks, melody lines, whatever....

Thank you all, so much!

Lane

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: M.Ted
Date: 17 Jan 02 - 11:07 PM

The point of changing only one string is that you can use the regular fingerings--particularly the D, Dm, A, Am, Dm7/4-string barred G, and slide them up and down the neck--you can also play a lot of melody type stuff, either using scale fingerings or (especially effective) out of chord positions--

Just try a little experimentation--play a D and run it up and down the neck--do the same with the Dm7 fingering--if you get brave, slap your index finger across the 4,5,6,and 7 strings and hit the E string on the 10th fret with your pinkie:

0-0-7-7-7-10

now play a scale by playing extensions beginning on the 5th fret--

Does that make you happy? You've got enough there to keep you busy--fool around with it for a while, and in no time, your imagination will kick in--

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: Lane
Date: 17 Jan 02 - 11:43 PM

yeah.... That'll keep me busy for a while...:)

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 18 Jan 02 - 11:45 PM

Bob Bolton, there is/was a Mudcatter with that name (DADGBE), who's an outstanding guitarist. I wonder if it's the same person.

And thanks, folks, for all these great ideas for me to try out on my new Martin. More ways to avoid doing work! I discovered drop D via the first two Gordon Lightfoot songbooks when I first taught myself guitar as a med student in 1974, but only use it sporadically. Sounds like something worth exploring (even though I can't sing in Don McLean's range for very long without breaking something).

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 18 Jan 02 - 11:54 PM

By the way, I find "Castles in the Air" to be yet another one of those songs that's really pretty and fun to sing...and whose lyrics are highly dysfunctional! That might be worth a thread of its own, come to think of it -- although I suppose it could degenerate into some really unpleasant stuff, so maybe I'll forgo the idea.

(Don't mind me, I'll just creep right back where I came from, and you guys keep right on with that interesting discussion about tunings...)

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: Shantymanuk
Date: 19 Jan 02 - 10:27 AM

Lane,

I posted a reply in a similar vein this morning to Help:DAGDAD tuning which may also be useful to you. Check it out and let me know how you get on.

Alan

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: Lane
Date: 22 Jan 02 - 12:15 AM

Thanks, Alan.. I'm checking it out....starting to get the idea with drop d.... it's great... well, for the few chords that I've mastered so far.... now if I could figure out some lead stuff, I'll be in business!

Lane

Subject: RE: Help with 'Drop D' tuning?
From: rangeroger
Date: 22 Jan 02 - 12:45 AM

I've been learning to play bass guitar and as a result of GAS and really good sale prices at Musician's Friend, I picked up an Epiphone EB-1 Violin Bass. ($200+$90 for Hard shell case).It comes with a telescoping leg that screws into the endpin hole so I've been playing it as a stand-up.

Got to experimenting and dropped the E string to D.Yep dropped D bass. There are several songs we do at church in Dm that the bass really sounds good on when I hit that low D under everything else we're doing.

I've even been bowing it at times with my fiddle bow. What a lot of fun.

rr