Open and altered tunings live

[Milkman]

Do you use them?


Is it worth the trouble to you?


Personally I keep at least one and sometimes two guitars on stage specifically for the purpose of open and altered tunings. I tune them between sets to whatever tuning the song needs. generallt tere's only one or two such songs in any given set.

To me, it's worth it. Yes you can play the songs in conventional tuning but it really sounds much better with the proper tuning.

Take a song like CCR's Fortunate Son. The song is played in G, but the guitar is actually tuned down a whole step which allows you to play the intro riff with open notes. To my ears it's a huge difference and worth the trouble.

[axestronomer]

I think that if the song was wrote in an open tuning it just doesn't have the same sound transposed to standard tuning. I always have a tele tuned to open G and a strat tuned to open E plus a 66 Mustang tuned to open C.

[mario]

Yes, I believe it is worth the trouble. Years ago, I used to play a lot of Rolling Stones tunes that called for G tuning. It just sounds a lot better. I hate to say this, but every time a hear a band playing a Stones tune in standard tuning when Keef was playing in G tuning, I cringe. On the other hand, I play all my electric slide in standard.

[Milkman]

Yes, I believe it is worth the trouble. Years ago, I used to play a lot of Rolling Stones tunes that called for G tuning. It just sounds a lot better. I hate to say this, but every time a hear a band playing a Stones tune in standard tuning when Keef was playing in G tuning, I cringe. On the other hand, I play all my electric slide in standard.


I agree.

Open tunings really have a distinctive ring to them. The Rolling St0nes is a good example.

Even drop D really has a chime to it that makes playing the same song in standard tuning sound pale by comparison.

[Ti-Ron]

I don't use a lot of differents tuning just the normal E, the drop D and half step dwon too. I'm not familiar with the open ones. Do you have a table of all that tunings ? Can be usefull, I love to experiment ! :D

[Milkman]

I don't use a lot of differents tuning just the normal E, the drop D and half step dwon too. I'm not familiar with the open ones. Do you have a table of all that tunings ? Can be usefull, I love to experiment ! :D


I know there are tables somewhere. Perhaps somebody will post a link.

I use the following:

Drop D = D, A, D, G, B, E

Open D = D, A, D, G, B, D

Open G = G, G, D, G, B, D

Detune D = D, G, C, F, A, D

The open tunings I use mostly for slide.

The Detuned D tuning I'm using for a CCR tune.

[Mooh]

Yes, it's also one of the best excuses to own and carry multiple axes to every gig, and have a good tuner in the signal path! Mooh.

[Milkman]

Yes, it's also one of the best excuses to own and carry multiple axes to every gig, and have a good tuner in the signal path! Mooh.


LOL, well it does help with my explanations to the Missus.


And yes, a pedal tuner should be standard equipment in any pedalboard.

I have a Planet Waves which I like a lot.

[Ti-Ron]

Thanks Milkman, I will try those news tuning right now! :D

[Milkman]

Thanks Milkman, I will try those news tuning right now! :D


No problem.

Pleasee use caution with my version of open G. Most people tune their 6th (E) down to D. I tune mine UP to G because I like the tonic on the bottom.

It's no problem but you have to bring it up gently and I wouldn't recommend leaving it in this tuning for extended periods.


This is a video clip of the tuning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tsnyLYAb4c

[bagpipe]

I use only one guitar and we play a bunch of tunes with different tunings. For open G songs (Stones, and some Black Crowes), I drop the A string down to G. That allows me to play the rhythm part (while muting the high E), and it makes it easy to play a solo, as the top 4 strings are still in standard tuning. We also play some tunes in D, where I just drop the low E string to D. I've never had a problem switching back and forward, although if you play a Strat with a floating tremelo, you might have some more tuning problems.

[Robert1950]

I'm still trying to make what I can of standard tuning, let alone alternative ones.

Some year, when I have a little more competence.

[Milkman]

I'm still trying to make what I can of standard tuning, let alone alternative ones.

Some year, when I have a little more competence.




Aren't we all.

Still open tunings can be fun and actually make some things easier to play.

Depending on the tuning, playing what you know will be next to impossible, but you discover new ideas out of necessity.