[ryanspeer]

(based on my newest "fling" in the realms of acoustic guitar exploration...)

Which of you (if any) use alternate tunings? For your electric or for your acoustic? Which tunings? Why do you prefer them? Likes or dislikes for each? (and because of my inate curiosity...)...WHY do you USE them? Just for the sake of being different or because of the tonal changes the tuning(s) offer(s)?

Me:
Standard tuning (obviously)
EBEABe (effected by using a cut-capo)
EAEEBe (my newest exploration thanks to David Crowder)

Standard: obviously the prime choice because of the ease of key changes, etc.

EBEABe: (effected by a cut capo) offers some beautiful voicings for songs in the key of E and is somewhat useable for songs in A. Somewhat limiting because if a song is in G (for example), the normal capo must be placed behind the third fret and the cut capo behind the fifth. Still though, the voicings are awesome.

EAEEBe: somewhat similar to my previous example, but still offers some unique and different chord voicings. Very easy to finger and switch between chords in E and allows for some very different expression and melody/harmony lines. It's obviously very limiting again because a capo must be used to play in any other keys (except for A). The voicings are great, but it requires using light-guage D strings in the 3rd and 4th string positions which requires buying special strings from somewhere such as www.stringthis.com, or by simply canabalizing from other left-over packs still sitting around from last year's string purchases...

[rock_guitar1990]

Standard, Drop D, Drop 1 Step, Drop 2 Steps

[Sinker]

Acoustic: Standard, drop D, double drop D (is that the official name?). My influence goes back to the 70s: Dan Fogelberg did some great drop D stuff back in the day.

More recently, have you listened to David Wilcox? He uses some alternate tunings to great effect. He's a dynamite acoustic player.

Electric: Standard.

[smashing guitar]

I use standard and drop D and sometimes drop D flat.

[Kato]

Standard, Drop D, double drop D, DADDDD, DbAbDbDbDbDb, Half step,

[MJ_Avalanche]

I use Dropped-D on occasion Sunday mornings for certain songs. ("Son of God", "My faith looks up to Thee" are the most common). Generally I use it to get some extra meat on my distortion.

I also used Open E for the rythm part on a song I wrote... But that song has pretty much gone by the wayside, although I still like the melody.

[Maestro_dmc]

Originally Posted by ryanspeer

(based on my newest "fling" in the realms of acoustic guitar exploration...)

Which of you (if any) use alternate tunings? For your electric or for your acoustic? Which tunings? Why do you prefer them? Likes or dislikes for each? (and because of my inate curiosity...)...WHY do you USE them? Just for the sake of being different or because of the tonal changes the tuning(s) offer(s)?

Me:
Standard tuning (obviously)
EBEABe (effected by using a cut-capo)
EAEEBe (my newest exploration thanks to David Crowder)

Standard: obviously the prime choice because of the ease of key changes, etc.

EBEABe: (effected by a cut capo) offers some beautiful voicings for songs in the key of E and is somewhat useable for songs in A. Somewhat limiting because if a song is in G (for example), the normal capo must be placed behind the third fret and the cut capo behind the fifth. Still though, the voicings are awesome.

EAEEBe: somewhat similar to my previous example, but still offers some unique and different chord voicings. Very easy to finger and switch between chords in E and allows for some very different expression and melody/harmony lines. It's obviously very limiting again because a capo must be used to play in any other keys (except for A). The voicings are great, but it requires using light-guage D strings in the 3rd and 4th string positions which requires buying special strings from somewhere such as www.stringthis.com, or by simply canabalizing from other left-over packs still sitting around from last year's string purchases...

Hey, it's good to see that someone else has discovered the Cut capo, and its uses. I use it for songs like We Fall Down, Here I Am To Worship, Lincoln Brewster's "You Are The One" etc.

I also like to use a capo to create "Drop E" where I capo the second fret, but leave the low E open. This is great for songs in E, easy to transpose on the fly, and Bass notes are still in the right spots, (I can finally get the voicing I want on "You Are Near" for that E/G#) Of course F#'s are hard to play, but I can leave out the bass note, and let the bass guitar carry it.

Other than that, I don't use alt tunings for worship because I am trying to keep a smooth flow going from song to song. I try to keep guitar changes to a minimum, and I never tune during the worship time, except to drop the D on my acoustic sometimes, but I'll mute for that.

I like to experiment and play with them on my own time though. I want to try that EAEEBe from Crowder. Is that what he does on "O Praise Him"?

[BluesJunkie]

Originally Posted by Kato

DADDDD, DbAbDbDbDbDb

Weird!


I occasionally use open tunings like open E and open A, and I sometimes drop D.

A cool tuning that sounds great on acoustic is DADGAD (low to high). Check out stuff like Zeppelin's "Black Mountain Side" and "The Rain Song" or Mountain's "To My Friend" for examples.

[sabertooth181]

on acoustic i like messin around with capos and alternate tunings a lot. it just makes guitar more interesting.or i use whatever tuning a song i wanna play is in.

[Kato]

Originally Posted by BluesJunkie

Weird!


I occasionally use open tunings like open E and open A, and I sometimes drop D.

A cool tuning that sounds great on acoustic is DADGAD (low to high). Check out stuff like Zeppelin's "Black Mountain Side" and "The Rain Song" or Mountain's "To My Friend" for examples.

Dashboard Confessional tuning is DADDDD.. just incase you were curious.. I think Foo Fighters also do a song in DADDD.

[CheshireCat]

The Classic Tuning 99% of the time. Toying with a modified version for a specific song. Also, global drops can be useful (maintaining the 4th 4th 4th 3rd 4th relationships).

[lespaul59]

I use:
Standard E(E,A,D,G,B,E)
E Flat or D#(Eb/D#, Ab/G#, Db/C#, Gb/F#, Bb/A#, EB/D#)
Standard D(D,G,C,F,A,D)
Drop D(D,A,D,G,B,E)
Drop C(C,G,C,F,A,D)
Drop B(B,A,D,G,B,E) I also use this in Eb
Open D5(D,A,D,A,D,D)
I mostly down tune because of Zakk Wylde, Creed and Alter Bridge songs are in D5. I also play around with other open and drop tunings.

[Jay42]

Originally Posted by CheshireCat

The Classic Tuning 99% of the time.

Yep, I guess you could say I'm "coming home" to standard tuning again. Mostly after reading an article by Zakk Wylde condemning kids today for abandoning their practice of scales for watered-down stuff like two-finger Drop-d playing (which almost seemed to be THE LAW back in 2001).

[BurntHombre]

I generally keep my guitar tuned down a half step.
DADGAD
Drop-D
Whatever tuning is used in the Rain Song...when I play the Rain Song.

[NathanaelP]

Mostly EADGBE, Sometimes Drop D, and once EEEEEE.