heymisterk Posted November 27, 2010 Share Posted November 27, 2010 I've heard this lots of times, especially open G and open E since those increase the string tension. Is there some truth to this? I mean, now that I have my Tele, I want to do some open G stuff, and I learned that "Gimme Shelter" is open E. Thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfpup Posted November 27, 2010 Share Posted November 27, 2010 Uh... no. No worries - except for the case of a acoustic guitar with some bracing issues perhaps. Also, open G is a slack key tuning. Your middle three strings stay the same and, since you drop the A to G and both E strings to D, you are essentially lowering your string tension. Open E will increase your neck tension as you are raising the A,D, and G strings, but again you no worries with a Tele or Paul or any electric in decent structural condition. An alternative, btw, is Open D (same as E but one step lower and thus reduced instead of increased string tension). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilpanda Posted November 27, 2010 Share Posted November 27, 2010 higher tuning doesnt hurt your guitar. It just puts a little more tension on it. Breaking strings wont hurt your guitar, its just a common thing. Choose good strings, but I would just be using a capo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heymisterk Posted November 27, 2010 Author Share Posted November 27, 2010 Uh... no. No worries - except for the case of a acoustic guitar with some bracing issues perhaps. Also, open G is a slack key tuning. Your middle three strings stay the same and, since you drop the A to G and both E strings to D, you are essentially lowering your string tension. Open E will increase your neck tension as you are raising the A,D, and G strings, but again you no worries with a Tele or Paul or any electric in decent structural condition. An alternative, btw, is Open D (same as E but one step lower and thus reduced instead of increased string tension). That makes sense. When I do an open G, I often tune the low E up to a G instead of down to a D, but I guess that wouldn't matter much. Thanks, Surfpup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfpup Posted November 27, 2010 Share Posted November 27, 2010 That makes sense. When I do an open G, I often tune the low E up to a G instead of down to a D, but I guess that wouldn't matter much. Thanks, Surfpup. Enjoy... Lotsa fun to be had in open tunings and break out the slide while you're at it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChanMan Posted November 27, 2010 Share Posted November 27, 2010 I play everything in standard. Everything. I'm useless.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeoConMan Posted November 27, 2010 Share Posted November 27, 2010 I play everything in standard.Everything. I'm useless.... Same here. If I get really adventurous I'll drop half a step to E flat to pick out songs in that key on my stereo. Or I'll drop the low E to D for some stuff, that's it for me. Mr. K, if you're gonna stay in G you might think about a smaller gauge string for the ones tuned up. Take some of the additional stress off the tuning key, limit string breakage. I mean, that's going far beyond what most would bother with. If the guitar won't stay tuned that way all the time, just keep doing what yer doing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChanMan Posted November 27, 2010 Share Posted November 27, 2010 Good points on the string guage Neo. Good to see you again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeoConMan Posted November 27, 2010 Share Posted November 27, 2010 Thankee! Good to be back in the saddle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damian Posted November 27, 2010 Share Posted November 27, 2010 I've heard this lots of times, especially open G and open E since those increase the string tension. Is there some truth to this? I mean, now that I have my Tele, I want to do some open G stuff, and I learned that "Gimme Shelter" is open E. Thoughts? Heymisterk; in general, it's safe; I keep 12 guitars in open tunings at all times year round. Some are custom hybrid tunings. One is always in the Keef tuning; no low E string / then GDGBD. Keith has other tunings as well...Gimme Shelter is EBEG#BE for the studio version. He often plays it in standard tuning live. Try to fingerpick the intro. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted November 27, 2010 Share Posted November 27, 2010 Do open tunings hurt your guitar? No. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeoConMan Posted November 27, 2010 Share Posted November 27, 2010 Gimme Shelter is a Stones song that I never could stand. The lyrics, the chick backup singers, the length of the song - not much guitar to enjoy. Then I heard a blues guy I knew in Texas whip that one out in the final set of his show. Hardly anybody there, so he decided to try it. I would never believe it if I hadn't heard it myself - only a 3 piece band. Gave me a whole new perspective on that song. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chase1410 Posted November 27, 2010 Share Posted November 27, 2010 I play everything in standard. Everything. I'm useless.... Yea I'm with you...and the occasional Drop-D and thats about it.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heymisterk Posted November 27, 2010 Author Share Posted November 27, 2010 Heymisterk; in general, it's safe; I keep 12 guitars in open tunings at all times year round. Some are custom hybrid tunings. One is always in the Keef tuning; no low E string / then GDGBD. Keith has other tunings as well...Gimme Shelter is EBEG#BE for the studio version. He often plays it in standard tuning live. Try to fingerpick the intro. I had read that he takes a string off. Thanks for the tips. I know "The Rain Song" is a 12-string tuned to G. Neo, thanks too. I might just try lighter gauge strings, or I might not: Usually, I play in an open tuning for a couple of days, then I move on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrosurfer1959 Posted November 27, 2010 Share Posted November 27, 2010 Open tuning and a glass bottle slide - Probably the most fun you can have with your pants on. and nope doesn't hurt a quality guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FirstMeasure Posted November 28, 2010 Share Posted November 28, 2010 Open tunings are the great fun! Open G and E are my favorites, but I played around with Pages C G C G C E for about a month. Lotsa Fun. Don't worry, guitars can handle it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky4 Posted November 28, 2010 Share Posted November 28, 2010 Movin On by Bad Company is in open C according to Mick Ralphs. I don't here a low C so am I to assume he tuned up to a C? yikes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damian Posted November 28, 2010 Share Posted November 28, 2010 Movin On by Bad Company is in open C according to Mick Ralphs. I don't here a low C so am I to assume he tuned up to a C? yikes! Mick liked his open and semi open tunings...good understated guitarist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silenced Fred Posted November 28, 2010 Share Posted November 28, 2010 Open tuning and a glass bottle slide - Probably the most fun you can have with your pants on. and nope doesn't hurt a quality guitar. Wait... you guys play guitar with your pants ON? weird... Open tunings are fun, I love playing around with some slide Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy R Posted November 28, 2010 Share Posted November 28, 2010 I had read that he takes a string off. Thanks for the tips. I know "The Rain Song" is a 12-string tuned to G. Neo, thanks too. I might just try lighter gauge strings, or I might not: Usually, I play in an open tuning for a couple of days, then I move on. Yeah a lot of times keith Doesn't have the low e string on his tele. I like to play songs in the tunings that they were recorded in. I hate it when artist try to wing something they wrote in a different tuning using a standard tuned guitar. Rain Song being one of them. Don't like JP's live version it just loses something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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