When I start to explore a new tuning, I
first tackle it in a very non analytical way, just placing my hands in
different positions to see if the tuning moves me, but very quickly I begin to
break down the tuning by analyzing its interval relationships, and I begin to
map out chords and scales up and down the neck. Take DADGAD, as an example, in
terms of intervals it goes R5R45R, a Suspended D chord. I like this tuning
because it is harmonically ambiguous. There is no 3rd to tell you if
it is major or minor and therefore can work in a variety of keys both major and
minor. The next step for me is to map out all of the scales that will work with
the tuning that I commonly use. D Ionian, Lydian, and Mixolydian, D Aeolian,
dorian and harmonic minor are good places to start and at first I map out the scale
in first position and then gradually move up the neck to find extended scale
patterns. I then map out as many chords as I can up and down the neck, that
correspond with the key I have chosen. I find having guitar neck grid paper
handy for taking notes and mapping patterns for both chords and scales. I use
the following open tunings in D which all involve the same intervals except for
the note on the 3rd string. Example:
D major is R5R35R
D minor is R5Rb35R
D sus 2 is R5R25R
D sus 4 is R5R45R
All of these tunings can be
transposed down or up to different keys without having to relearn new finger
patterns once you have a good grasp of the new tuning. There is an excellent
resource book on open tunings by Mark Hanson with an excellent appendix of
artists and their tunings. Anyone in to Sonic Youth or the fingerstlye players
like Kottke and Hedges should definitely check this book out. I know many
guitarists that resist open tunings and I honestly don’t know why. They
really open up another world of possibilities and are a great way to take a
break from standard tuning, if for no other reason than to provide fresh
perspective and break out of playing ruts.
Bill
From: mark francombe
[mailto:mark@markfrancombe.com]
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2009
2:45 AM
To:
Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com
Subject: Re: Tuning guitar in
fifths for wider orchestration options
I've been watching this
tread with grrat interest, I think its amazing how so many of you have
experimented with tunings, and have of course tried some things myself on spare
guitars, for effects. (Like for example the tunings that Rick mentioned, about tuning
the whole guitar to one note for groovy droning noise stuff etc).
What really amazes me however is... do you guys reall RE-learn all your scales
and chords for all these different tunings? I mean, if you tune to this
5ths approach... how do you play a chord!!! Its taken me 33 years (since I
first got a guitar) to learn a few girl guide chords, and a couple of bar
chords.... one (ok two) scales, that I can slide up and down... but the thing
that has stopped me REALLY getting into tuning is this... Do I really have to
forget what I ever knew... and dedicate my life to a new tuning????
I myself have been using baritone guitar for 10 years, with a A based tuning,
this gives me the LOWS I need for bass parts, and I use a lot of pitch
shifting, and can go high enough... but this is still standard tuning
basically, just tined down a bit...
Have to try out this 5ths thing
m
--
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