alternate tunings

28 Sep 99 - 09:06 PM (#118698)
Subject: alternate tunings
From: Hummingbird

Hi again, I would like to try some alternate tunings for some songs I would like to play. But, I know nothing about them. Are the chord fingerings the same???? Will I be totally lost??? If anyone has any sites they think would be useful, please let me know. You guys are great. I have gotten more useful information from all of you than from all the books I have bought on playing the guitar!!!!! Thanks Hummingbird/Shauneen

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28 Sep 99 - 11:09 PM (#118725)
Subject: RE: Help: alternate tunings
From: Roger in Baltimore

Hummingbird,

Books have been written about alternate tunings. Guitarists use alternate tunings to get a "different" sound from standard tuning. If you use alternate tunings you have to use alternate fingerings.

Here are a few to get you started. Notes are bass to treble, left to right.

Dropped D tuning
DADGBE

Used primarily in the key of D. Many standard chords can be used. But you might want to use some alternate fingerings.

Chords as shown here are bass to treble, top to bottom. The number indicates which fret you press down on that string.

G chord

5
5
0
0
0(3)
3

Parentheses indicate alternate fingering.

Em chord

2
2
2
0
0
0

Open G tuning

DGDGBD

Makes a G chord without any fingering. A barre across all 6 strings at the fifth fret is C, at the seventh fret is a D.

Sort of C chord

0
0
2
0
1
0

Sort of D7th chord

0
2
0
2
1
0

Open D tuning

DADF#AD

Gives you a D chord when all strings are open. G at fifth fret, A at seventh fret. (Similar to open G)

Sort of G chord

0
2
0
1
0
0

Sort of A7th chord

2
0
2
1
0
0

Both open tunings are commonly used to play "bottle neck" style. Any cylindrica object can be placed across the strings and slid up and down the fret board while picking the strings. Very unusual sounds are capable. Also some very beautiful sounds in the right hands.

Last, but not least, in this lesson.

DADGAD tuning
DADGAD

Base Chord (sort of D)

0
0
0
2
0
0

Alternate chord

0
3
2
0
0
0

This last tuning I learned as "D Modal" tuning. It was described to me as a cross between a major and a minor chord. Very eerie at times. I play some "old timey" banjo sounding tunes on it (the sister tuning was common among Appalacian banjo players). I understand it is quite popular in Celtic music as well.

Hummingbird, this should be enough to keep you confused and in wonder for some time. (If you understand any of what I have described).

Enjoy the music.

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29 Sep 99 - 04:20 AM (#118784)
Subject: RE: Help: alternate tunings
From: Auxiris

There's an excellent book available entitled "The Complete Book of Alternate Tunings" by Mark Hanson, published by Accent on Music, 19363 Williamette Dr., #252, West Linn, OR 97068. Very informative, easy to understand. . . I recommend it highly. Happy tuning!

cheers,

Auxiris

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29 Sep 99 - 07:13 AM (#118795)
Subject: RE: Help: alternate tunings
From: GeorgeH

There's a fair bit on this over on Martin Simpson's website:

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

(somday I'll find to learn how to HTML-ise links in Mudcat).

Includes some videos, books, etc.

G.

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29 Sep 99 - 05:23 PM (#119024)
Subject: RE: Help: alternate tunings
From: John of the Hill

Hummingbird, My advice is to try several tunings, though not so many as to drive yourself to madness. I tried DADGAD but could never make it work for me, I tried EADEAE and tunes seem to come to me much more easily. Paul de Grae has a book-CD combo called Irish Traditional Guitar that covers DADEAE and EADEAE. There are several books covering DADGAD. Pat Kirtly's website has a nice piece on alternate tunings. Good luck, John

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29 Sep 99 - 05:50 PM (#119034)
Subject: RE: Help: alternate tunings
From: Marion

Here's a website to look at:

now I forget the name of the site

It has chord diagrams for DADGAD and "Dropped D" which I think (don't quote me) is DADGBE. It also has tablature/sheet for a number of Celtic tunes in alternate tunings.

Marion

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