To Thread - Forum Home

The Mudcat Café TM
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=48015
13 messages

Dougie MacLean - Tunings?

28 May 02 - 01:57 AM (#718578)
Subject: Dougie MacLean - Tunings?
From: GUEST,Jake T.

Anybody know where I can find the chords, and tunings that Dougie Maclean plays. I usually learn by ear, but I'm lost on his songs. I can figure out ways to play them, but I know its not what he's playing.


28 May 02 - 04:42 AM (#718614)
Subject: RE: Dougie MacLean - Tunings?
From: GUEST,jonm

Try dougiemaclean.com or dunkeld.com, where you can order his two songbooks. They have all the chords and melody arranged for piano, but no information on tunings.

Quite a lot of the stuff can be done in standard EADGBE e.g. This love will carry in C, capoV, or Turning away in Em. I do Caledonia in drop D, capoIII, but it's not what Dougie uses.

Much of the rest of his stuff is in open Cm tuning (CGCEbGC). He does Ready for the Storm in this, capoIV. I use open Dm (DADFAD), capoII and it sounds the same.

I spoke to Dougie on his recent tour and the website will soon have tab on it.


29 May 02 - 04:22 PM (#719718)
Subject: RE: Dougie MacLean - Tunings?
From: GUEST,Jake T

Thanks jonm I used to play with different tunings years ago. Joni Mitchell stuff was very interesting for me, but a bit of a pain if you want to play a lot of songs. Of late I have used standard, but Dougie stuff makes me want to go after it again. I know some artist's use DADGAD all night, or drop D, It seems that MacLean use's a few. I should just use more guitar's.


02 May 11 - 09:34 AM (#3146418)
Subject: RE: Dougie MacLean - Tunings?
From: GUEST,George from Hamilton

When Wee Guitar was around, Steve was very good at sending tab requests to anyone who asked.I knew Steve well and had met him in Perth when he visited.He gave me all the tabs from Wee Guitar because I had contributed so many myself.I have all of them, so anyone who wants a particular tab, just e-mail me at gbm1@talktalk.net and I'll send them.


03 May 11 - 04:29 PM (#3147268)
Subject: RE: Dougie MacLean - Tunings?
From: GUEST,Dean of Rochester

Many of his songs are best played in open C (CGCGCE) plus capo e.g. Singing Land, Caledonia.

Others also work in this tuning e.g. Until We Meet Again, It Fascinates Me.

Rescue Me is in DADGAD (although works nicely in standard tuning too).
His version of Green Grow The Rashes is also DADGAD, although I prefer to use (cause it's slightly easier) DGDGAD.

Trail of the Survivor and Turning Away are both easy in standard tuning,with a capo at the appropriate fret, as is This Love Will Carry, and High Flying Seagull is in Standard tuning .

Ready for the Storm is easiest and sounds best in Open Cm, but not quite as described above, better to use C G C G C Eflat. However, it can be played in standard tuning, although it's pretty trickly unless you're good with using your left hand little finger for pull-offs and hammer ons!

Let me know what song(s) you wanted and I'll get back to you on the appropriate tuning.


28 Oct 12 - 12:56 PM (#3427300)
Subject: RE: Dougie MacLean - Tunings?
From: GUEST

Actually the Cm/C tunings can be not only used on Dougie's work but also Joni Mitchell as mentioned and Tom Rush uses it alot.....Tom Rush has a really good instructional DVD breaks down his songs step by step in both C and G tunings. You can find it at TOMRUSH.COM. I'm hoping Mr. MacLean will find the time to do something similar....Not Lie Down is one of my all time favorites. I believe its capo on the 3rd fret in a CM tuning...
Jack


28 Oct 12 - 01:06 PM (#3427303)
Subject: RE: Dougie MacLean - Tunings?
From: GUEST

open C (CGCGCE) and C Modal (CGCGCD) are good for many of Dougie's songs (Caledonia, for instance is in CGCGCE). He used to have a CD-ROM with video tuition by Dougie himself, of several of his most popular songs, but I guess it's no longer available.

I find I can work around many by using DADGAD.


28 Oct 12 - 01:09 PM (#3427305)
Subject: RE: Dougie MacLean - Tunings?
From: Backwoodsman

The guest of 01:06 PM was me sans cookie.


28 Oct 12 - 01:44 PM (#3427325)
Subject: RE: Dougie MacLean - Tunings?
From: GUEST,GuestTF

Why do you want to play them exactly the same way as Dougie?
I suggest you find your own tunings and your own way. Thatsh the folky way. TF.


28 Oct 12 - 02:07 PM (#3427338)
Subject: RE: Dougie MacLean - Tunings?
From: GUEST

Well when I find chord progressions that interesting,I enjoy trying to learn them. I've been playing the folksy way(open D & G some CJ) for 40+ years. Keeps if fresh for me.John Fahey did alot of his stuff in C also.....
j


12 Feb 19 - 11:00 AM (#3976341)
Subject: RE: Dougie MacLean - Tunings?
From: GUEST

He often uses a Cm open tuning which is: bottom to top CGCGCEb (like in "Ready for the storm").


22 Jan 23 - 11:03 AM (#4163180)
Subject: RE: Dougie MacLean - Tunings?
From: Brock

Here's Dougie doing Auld Lang Syne on YouTube, Butterstonestudios.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMFnqj6aFwY&list=RDsMFnqj6aFwY&start_radio=1

I would love to know what tuning he is using


22 Jan 23 - 01:33 PM (#4163199)
Subject: RE: Dougie MacLean - Tunings?
From: Backwoodsman

Brock - here’s your link Blickified