Marshall Paul Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 OK fellas, while we've got you all thinking, who out there likes to de-tune? Who is thinking that the old EADGBE 440 gets a little stale every now and then. Who begins to look past the nut at the headstock and thinks "ooh, what are these shiny looking things on there? What will happen if I start turning them? Do you have a favourite de-tune? Do you have a favourite song you like to play that requires de-tuning? If so, what is it? Is there one you'd love to do but need some help with? Heady ponderings indeed! lol When I first got a dobro, the in song to play at the time was Dire Straits "Romeo and Juliet". Now, I've got to admit, that one had me scratching my head. But then a mate told me about the de-tune for it and I never looked back after that. So much fun to play! It's F/Bflat/F/Bflat/D/F. Once you've done that, then capo off at the 3rd fret and there you go. Too much fun. So, what's got you cranking those shiny bits? Know any new ones we might not know? If so, please do tell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cody78 Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 The only time I really got into alternate tunings was through some guy called Jimmy Page. I learnt a lot of his tunings from guitar magazines. The one I really like is the one for The Rain Song which I believe is D-G-C-G-C-D. These days I only use DADGAD, open G (D-G-D-G-B-D) and double drop D (DADGBD) on very rare occasions. For me learning varied chords/ chord voicings in standard tuning is what I really got into many years ago - 7ths, 9ths, 11ths, 13ths, maj/min, dom, aug, and so on. When I started learning extented chords & voicings I forgot all about open tunings. Open tunings are very unique sounding though and are lots of fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brad1 Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 I like to play in open G sometimes. It's fun to play a lot of Stones stuff in the 'ol Keef style. I leave the lower E on however. I also like open D when for playing some of Neil Young's songs. And when I am in a metal mood I sometimes drop-D-it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cody78 Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 I also like open D when for playing some of Neil Young's songs. Have to say his version of Pocahontas on the Unplugged album sounds amazing with his 12 string in double drop D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshall Paul Posted January 15, 2015 Author Share Posted January 15, 2015 Yeah, Pagey, he was another that used to get you scratching your head going "wtf?" lol For many years I didn't realise that he had a de-tune for his 1275 that was kept that way as his standard. The upper 12 was 440 EADGBE but the lower 6 was EADADE. Whoa...ok! lol And your right about his "Rain Song" de-tune. That one had the finger in the ear, scratching away for a while there too! Then there's "Kashmir". DADGAD. A lot of the time, you can't beat Drop D (DADGBE) for doing power chords. Just makes it so much easier sometimes. Then there's Open D (DADFflatAD). Open tunings do sound beautiful, and even more so if done on a 12 string. A real harp effect. Here's some more songs and their de-tunes if anyone feels like giving them a go. Frampton: "Wind of Change" DDDABF# "Nowhere's Too Far For My Baby" EAEAC#E "All I Wanna Be (is by your side)" EADGBD (sort of reverse drop D) Queen: "Fat Bottom Girls" Drop D (DADGBE), optional Double Drop D (DADGBD) Heart: "Magic Man" either normal 440 or EADGDG Fleetwood Mac: "Gold Dust Woman" DADGBD David Lee Roth: "Damn Good" Drop D (DADGBE) Micky Ralph of Bad Company: "Can't Get Enough" CCGCEC I've got a heap of them here, too numerous to keep listing, but if anyone's interested, just write here on this post and I'll see if I've got it for you, ok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshall Paul Posted January 15, 2015 Author Share Posted January 15, 2015 I just had a good read of my post title...? sounds like I'm selling quaaludes!! lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Farnsbarns Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 Who is thinking that the old EADGBE 440 gets a little stale every now and then Do alternate tunings give us new notes? Have I missed something? :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 Dylan's 'Buckets of Rain'. The top E goes to D and some others get changed a bit, too........ Same chap's 'Ballad in Plain D' as well. P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Scales Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 Open G for Stones (Brown Sugar, Honky Tonk etc) Drop double D for Cinnamon Girl Drop D for Fat Bottom Girls Eb Bb Eb Eb Bb Eb (from memory) for Jumping Jack Flash Eb normal tuning for heavier sound or when singer needs it 432 for grooving with nature, man. hmmm...maybe I DO want a G-Force after all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshall Paul Posted January 15, 2015 Author Share Posted January 15, 2015 Dylan's 'Buckets of Rain'. The top E goes to D and some others get changed a bit, too........ Same chap's 'Ballad in Plain D' as well. P. Yeah, I don't think it's a straight out reverse drop D, there's something else there as well. Give me a sec mate, I'll see if I can find it for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshall Paul Posted January 15, 2015 Author Share Posted January 15, 2015 Open G for Stones (Brown Sugar, Honky Tonk etc) Drop double D for Cinnamon Girl Drop D for Fat Bottom Girls Eb Bb Eb Eb Bb Eb (from memory) for Jumping Jack Flash Eb normal tuning for heavier sound or when singer needs it 432 for grooving with nature, man. hmmm...maybe I DO want a G-Force after all With the "Fat Bottom Girls" song, the de-tune all depends on which version of the song it is. The album version (Jazz, 1978), I think from memory uses just Drop D, where as the single version, Brian uses Double Drop D I think. Keef uses (or used) DAD#A#DD for "Jumping Jack Flash". And yet, oddly enough, when Frampton covered it live (FCA), he just used 440. And the 440Eb half tone step-down was famously used by Phil Lynot in Thin Lizzy. Good example is "Boys Are Back In Town". And when I start to tire, the ever dependable 432 Major third in 440 always serves well! lol. When you go to the shop to check out these G-Force thingy's?... can I come with you? :unsure: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshall Paul Posted January 15, 2015 Author Share Posted January 15, 2015 Dylan's 'Buckets of Rain'. The top E goes to D and some others get changed a bit, too........ Same chap's 'Ballad in Plain D' as well. P. I believe the "Buckets of Rain" de-tune might be either DADF#AD or EBEG#BE. Not real sure. Give them a go and see what you think mate. Sorry I couldn't be any more help there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 I believe the "Buckets of Rain" de-tune might be either DADF#AD or EBEG#BE. Not real sure. Give them a go and see what you think mate. Sorry I couldn't be any more help there. Hey, thanks, MP. I've just checked and I play the DADF#AD way. Weird! 30-odd years ago I just tried-out various things to see which worked best for me. It seems like I might have stumbled on the correct tuning more by chance than design........ Now I'll have to get the G-J back up to pitch. If only G-Force existed in 1946 and A. di Mauro had the sense to fit one to the Old Girl.... P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 yea, I dig guys like Micheal Hedges, Alex DeGrassi, Ed Gerhardt so alternate tuning with acoustics is a thing I do quite a bit. My wife's brothers play guitar too, they'll pick up one my acoustics start playing, a few seconds go by, "ah jeeze, he's at it again..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshall Paul Posted January 15, 2015 Author Share Posted January 15, 2015 Hey, thanks, MP. I've just checked and I play the DADF#AD way. Weird! 30-odd years ago I just tried-out various things to see which worked best for me. It seems like I might have stumbled on the correct tuning more by chance than design........ Now I'll have to get the G-J back up to pitch. If only G-Force existed in 1946 and A. di Mauro had the sense to fit one to the Old Girl.... P. Yeah, I've been running that DADF#AD tuning through the brain pan and it seems to fit with the song. And a lot of my figuring out when I was younger was more by pure fluke as well! lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshall Paul Posted January 15, 2015 Author Share Posted January 15, 2015 My wife's brothers play guitar too, they'll pick up one my acoustics start playing, a few seconds go by, "ah jeeze, he's at it again..." Too funny!...I used to get that too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVOL! Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 I have never experimented with tuning down. I had a friend that liked to tune his Jazzmaster down a half step. That little bit does give open chords a much darker sound. I have played around with open tunings, mostly open G (DGDGBD) and currently my favorite is double drop D (DADGBD). The last two songs I wrote were in double drop D. I hope to have the lyrics finished soon so I can start working it out at rehearsal. One thing I do not do with open G is play Stones. Never. So boring and tired. My favorite players that use open G and double drop D a lot are Alan Sparhawk of Low and old Neil Young. I have also played around a little with tuning the top string to either D (REM's Gardening at Night uses this) or F# (Kevin Shields of MBV has used this). Sevenths and augmented fourths or fifths in the upper octaves can have a very cool effect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Searcy Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 It used to get boring to me but not anymore. And no, alternative tuning doesn't give us more notes. It does help force a shift in playing the same old patterns over and over again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVOL! Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 Another great player that exclusively uses alternate tunings is Jose Gonzalez and it is all on a classic guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVOL! Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 And no, alternative tuning dosnt give us more notes. It does help force a shift in playing the same old patterns over and over again. Exactly. For me it is a new approach to the same chord progressions where I might find a new chord voicing that is not possible with alternate tuning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 I use a piano/Hammond/synth when I want chord voicings and timbres timbers timberii different from the same old guitar sounds. Which is all the time really. rct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshall Paul Posted January 15, 2015 Author Share Posted January 15, 2015 Yup, the 440Eb half tone step-down. Phil Lynot was a big advocate for that. I think because it probably suited his voice better. Definitely gives a bit more growl eh. I think that maybe if your going to leave it at that, then you might have to go up a gauge in your strings. Like, my standard gauge is 8-38's but I'd probably have to go up to say 9-42's. Open G and Double Drop D are wonderful de-tunes, endless possibilities. Gilmour is a big Double Drop D fan. I'll admit, I'm not that a big a fan of the stones, although I do admire Keefs ability to drop out of a coconut tree headfirst and survive! lol With your D and F#, is that both 1st string? Or is the F# the G? Sus7th's are always welcome, especially in an open tune. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 the textures you can get are pretty interesting. I like to play around with C-G-D-G-A-D tuning. D-A-D-G-A-D is kinda fun too E-A-D-E-A-E is quite interesting, but your nut and tuning peg (especially the G string) need to be in good order or you'll just blow thru G strings like there's no tomorrow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 I do admire Keefs ability to drop out of a coconut tree headfirst and survive! lol haha!! GREAT! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cody78 Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 Yeah, Pagey, he was another that used to get you scratching your head going "wtf?" lol For many years I didn't realise that he had a de-tune for his 1275 that was kept that way as his standard. The upper 12 was 440 EADGBE but the lower 6 was EADADE. Whoa...ok! lol And your right about his "Rain Song" de-tune. That one had the finger in the ear, scratching away for a while there too! Then there's "Kashmir". DADGAD. A lot of the time, you can't beat Drop D (DADGBE) for doing power chords. Just makes it so much easier sometimes. Then there's Open D (DADFflatAD). Open tunings do sound beautiful, and even more so if done on a 12 string. A real harp effect. Here's some more songs and their de-tunes if anyone feels like giving them a go. Frampton: "Wind of Change" DDDABF# "Nowhere's Too Far For My Baby" EAEAC#E "All I Wanna Be (is by your side)" EADGBD (sort of reverse drop D) Queen: "Fat Bottom Girls" Drop D (DADGBE), optional Double Drop D (DADGBD) Heart: "Magic Man" either normal 440 or EADGDG Fleetwood Mac: "Gold Dust Woman" DADGBD David Lee Roth: "Damn Good" Drop D (DADGBE) Micky Ralph of Bad Company: "Can't Get Enough" CCGCEC I've got a heap of them here, too numerous to keep listing, but if anyone's interested, just write here on this post and I'll see if I've got it for you, ok. Some cool tunings there MP. That's the great thing about this forum, that it makes you think of things you may not have played/ tried for a while. I managed to find this list of Page's tunings which seem to be accurate. I forgot to mention 'Wonderful One' which is on the list from Page & Plant's No quarter album. That's another beautiful sounding tuning, which Page plays 12 string on. White Summer/Black Mountain Side - DADGAD Moby **** - DADGBE Friends - CACGCE That's The Way - DGDGBD Bron-Y-Aur Stomp - DGDGBD Hat's Off - CGCGCE (CGCEGC ?) Going to California - DADGBD When the Levee Breaks - CFCFAC - (open G, down a tone) Dancing Days (live) - DGDGBD In My Time Of Dying (studio)- EAEAC#E In My Time Of Dying (live) - DGDGBD Bron-Yr-Aur - CACGCE Ten Years Gone - DADGBE Black Country Woman - DGDGBD Poor Tom - CACGCE Travelling Riverside Blues - DGDGBD Wonderful One (Double neck) - - 6 string - F#F#C#F#C#F# (GGDGDG) - 12 string - Standard tuning capo 1 City Don't Cry - EAEAC#E Wah Wah - AEAEEA No Quarter (on the "Unledded" Album) - DADGAD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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