Jan 28, 2008 03:26 pm The only one I really ever used was Open G (DGDGBD) when we played some Stones covers.
Lately though we don't seen to use any alternate tunings. Drop D is about it and we are all tuned down to Eb. Ya, I know, kinda boring.
Hey guitar players! Anyone use alternate tunings?
Posted on Jan 28, 2008 03:21 pm
TheJazzyOne
Your favorite rockstar
Member Since: Feb 03, 2003
Sadly, I think the longer I'm out of a band setting, the more creative I get. In my Rock-Star days, I hated using too many tunings because it meant either down time on stage, or even more guitars having to be set up before the show.
But now that I'm a home studio rock star, I find myself realizing more and more that I don't need to worry about being able to recreate sounds I make in a live setting.
That's led me to start playing with alternate tunings over the past week or so for the first time in a LONG time. In the past I used Drop D (which I hardly count as an alternate tuning), and Open D5 (DADAAD) which can lead to some cool things.
This past week I've also started messing around with Open Dm (DADFAD) and Open D (DADF#AD) and both have opened a world of new voicings to me. I've been coming up with riffs faster than I have for a long time.
Anybody use any other tunings that they're fond of?
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Jan 28, 2008 03:26 pm The only one I really ever used was Open G (DGDGBD) when we played some Stones covers.
Lately though we don't seen to use any alternate tunings. Drop D is about it and we are all tuned down to Eb. Ya, I know, kinda boring.
Jan 28, 2008 03:28 pm I do a lot of drop-D and a little drop-C. Other than that, its standard tuning at concert pitch for me.
On my steel-string acoustic, I'll tune to open D to jam on Braun-Yr-Aur Stomp or open G to jam on Rain Song. But I kick myself every time I pick up my guitar and it's been left in an open tuning.
Quote:
I don't need to worry about being able to recreate sounds I make in a live setting
My sentiments exactly! I don't play live anymore either so I don't have to worry about how difficult it is, how many takes it took to do it right, how many layered guitars it takes, or how many punch ins/outs it takes!
Jan 28, 2008 03:32 pm I have the Line6 Variax which can do open tunings without changing the strings, it's really great. I have about 10 slots filled with all kinds of tunings. I recently got a book on open tunings also. Some of the creative chord shapes make some really nice sounds :)
Jan 28, 2008 04:36 pm Sometimes I like to tune my Low E to a B. Then I play off the 2nd Fret on the A string if that makes sense!
Jan 28, 2008 05:09 pm i wrote one of my most interesting songs in open d minor. it's a very, very fun tuning to play in. just use the low strings as a drone and then do hammer ons and pull-offs on the high strings, forming new chords on every change.
that was a weird song. it was called 'lorena' after the old civil war song, and seemed to be about creating a mechanical woman.
Jan 28, 2008 06:55 pm I want to hear that song.
Jan 28, 2008 07:13 pm there's no recording of it, but i'm thinking of recording it. the problem last time i tried was that the time signature was too complex for me to program using my tools at the time. really the only thing i need now to record the thing is a beat that makes sense. a tall order, as i'm not the world's best drum programmer. there are things like stretched measures (extra beats, on certain passes) and pauses in the song. staying in sync with cubase's time clock was impossible. like, you do what you need to do and then end up off the measure divisions in cubase, which makes cutting and pasting very tough.
Jan 28, 2008 07:27 pm i remember the chorus lyrics. haha.
i made you to see
what's inside of me
now i'm unredeemed
my heart is circuitry
come back, come back to me
it was about a robot woman the singer had created, who had then gone off and become a slut. it was a mournful ballad.
Jan 28, 2008 07:35 pm Is there a way you can record it without using a time clock?
Jan 28, 2008 07:48 pm yeah, i just looked at the old attempt. might be possible with cut and paste, but if not i can just do each section manually. problem is that i haven't come up with a beat that sounds good with it. i'll try to do beats on it today. the next step will be to somehow make my electric sound like an old acoustic (i have no acoustic guitar out here in ca with me) and then i'll want to add some weird messed up flutes and pads and stuff.
no idea if i can get this thing working but i need something to do right now so i think i'll try.
Jan 28, 2008 08:51 pm I've pretty much used standard tuning for everything. I did do one song in drop D, but never finished it. I occasionally tune down 1/2 step, but that's about it.
Dan
Jan 29, 2008 09:01 am I've been writing in drop D ever since I started writing for my voice, as apposed to my cowriters voice... a natural solution to my limitted range . : ) Everything's still 440, though .
Jan 29, 2008 12:34 pm tonyoci,
would you recommend the book you got? I've been curious as to some of the more "official" techniques for open tuning since so far I've just been making up things as I've went
Jan 29, 2008 12:37 pm I've been messing around with the "Modal G" that Richard Thompson uses a lot - CGDGBE. Some cool sounds and bizarre fingering. Just for fun though.
If I need to get weird, I reach for the mandolin thingy (Ovation guitar converted to four courses - GDAD). Stretched fingerings, but WEIRD sounds.
Jan 29, 2008 01:16 pm I'm going to look into the Modal G a bit.
I'm interested in knowing more about your "mandolin thingy" though
Jan 29, 2008 01:34 pm I use open G tuning sometimes, most of the time when I'm playing the slide.. pretty much can't go wrong with open G & slide
Jan 29, 2008 08:03 pm This is the book I got
www.amazon.com/Forward-Al...4688&sr=8-2
It's fine but not stunning. I think you can get all the info you need online.
Here's some sites I've used
This one is a pretty big PDF that covers just about everything.
paradiz.free.fr/poubelle/alltunings.pdf
eceserv0.ece.wisc.edu/~se...atetunings.html
Jan 30, 2008 10:41 am Thanks, that was a helpful post!
Jan 30, 2008 12:26 pm DADF#AG.....sounds lovely. Some really nice open chords. Used it on more than one track. Doesn't sound great distorted....but on an acoustic its brill!
Jan 30, 2008 11:50 pm i use drop B and A. now i've got a baritone i can tune to drop G. thats hell low but the guitar can handle it no worries, much like a 25.5 inch scale handles drop B. but sounds better.
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