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RE: Tuning guitar in fifths for wider orchestration options



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

On Thu, Feb 26, 2009 at 1:14 AM, Charles Zwicky <cazwicky@earthlink.net> wrote:

Per Boysen wrote:

Anyone here on the list having tried tuning a guitar in fifths for
wider orchestration options? Or even wider intervals? Would make sense
when looping to get lower bass and higher highs. I guess you have to
pick a custom string set for this.

Greetings from Sweden

Per Boysen
www.boysen.se
www.perboysen.com

 

I have been tuning in straight fifths for  the past 15 years or so....

http://jpsongs.com/troubadortech/zwickrig.htm




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