Hi,
Steve in PA . I rarely post but I figured I'd add my two cents since I play
guitar and it's something I'm familiar with .
Just to add to Dave's guitar tips . Open G tuning is a very common
tuning for slide playing and fingerstyle and does not add unhealthy
stress to your guitar. (when done right)
A lot of players play in G and E tuning exclusively .(George Thorogood,Black
Crowes,etc.)
Most of Joe Walsh's slide playing is in open tunings . Duane Allman also
played
slide in open tunings .Tons of Led Zeppelin songs used alternate tunings
.(see below)
The list goes on.........
In a lot of open tunings not every string is tuned "up" to the note . In
fact most of the notes are
tuned down to the note and actually add less stress to your guitar .
The official definition of Slack Key tuning:
"Hawaiian slack key guitar (ki ho'alu) is one of the great acoustic guitar
traditions in the world. Ki ho'alu, which literally means "loosen the key,"
is the Hawaiian language name for the solo fingerpicked style unique to
Hawaii. In this tradition, the strings (or "keys") are "slacked" to produce
many different tunings, which usually contain a major chord, or a chord with
a major 7th note, or sometimes one with a 6th note in it. Each tuning
produces a lingering sound behind the melody and has a characteristic
resonance and fingering."
Pat Simmon's Slack Key is a perfect example of this . Next time you listen
to it pay attention to how the notes ring together and they almost sound
harp like . It is impossible to play it in standard A-440 guitar tuning .
Alternate tunings is a very common thing in guitar playing, especially with
a lot
of the so called alternative bands lately like Sound Garden, Foo Fighters,
etc.
all use alternate tunings for a lot of their music .
HERE ARE SOME COMMON JIMMY PAGE TUNINGS:(if you care to keep reading)
The unique guitar tunings used by Page gave opportunities for diverse
musical exploration. Here are the some of his alternate tunings, which vary
from open chords to original creations.
D A D G A D
For Jimmy Page, the most famous alternate tuning is an Indian-based
structure, which gives the guitar a sitar-like sound. Page first learned it
in 1966, when Al Stewart taught him to play "Black Waterside", (by folk
musician Bert Jansch). The next Yardbirds' album ("Little Games" released
in 1967) featured Page's "White Summer" in this D modal tuning. The first
Zeppelin LP would then include "Black Mountain Side", similar to Jansch's
arrangement. "Kashmir" and later "Midnight Moonlight" (a left-over song
from the Zep era called "Swan Song") would also feature this tuning.
C A C G C E
The Led Zeppelin III era contained a stronger focus on acoustic sounds.
This folk tuning was used on "Friends". Also recorded during this period
(and in the same tuning) was the instrumental "Bron-Yr-Aur" (later released
on "Physical Graffiti") and "Poor Tom" (finally released on "Coda" in 1982).
C G C G C E
An open C tuning was used for the slide blues "Hat's Off to (Roy) Harper" in
1970.
D G D G B D
Open G was used by Page on several songs including: "Black Country Woman" &
"Going to California". Tune it a semi-tone down for the studio version of
"That's The Way".
D A D G B E
Simply drop the 6th string to a D for "Moby Dick" and "Ten Years Gone".
Rain Song (DGCGCD - studio version) (EADADE - live performance)
Probably the most "pretty" chords were achieved with these tunings for the
Rain Song, which raises a step for the live performance.
If you've read this far you must be a guitar player .Thanks for taking the
time to
read the whole thing.
I hope this helps with your alternate tuning adventures . Take care and
happy picking .
Steve in PA
-----Original Message-----
From: David R. Wasserstrom <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Tuesday, March 07, 2000 5:17 AM
Subject: Re: Somebody tells me!
>As a public service to guitar players and their respective guitars on the
>listserve, I can tell you with near certaintly that Slack Key is in an open
>G tuning DGDGBD from low string to high. I've never tuned my axe beyond a
>standard E tuning (EADGBE), but I imagine it would place an unhealthy
stress
>on most instruments, especially if left in that position for an extended
>period of time.
>
>The Brown Book does have it in a different tuning than this, but Pat and
>John have both confirmed to me that open G is the way to go.
>
>DW
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Sent: Monday, March 06, 2000 8:35 PM
>Subject: Re: Somebody tells me!
>
>
>> K,
>>
>> I have a music book called "The Doobie Brothers Complete". It's complete
>> through "Fault Line". It has both notation and tablature for Slat Key.
It
>> calls for an open D tuning, DADF#AD, with a capo on the 4th fret. I find
>it
>> impossible to reach the frets using this tuning. Watching Pat and John
>play
>> it, I think they actually tune up to open F#. It's the only way you can
>> reach the frets. I don't have the guts to tune my guitar up that high. I
>> don't want that kind of stress on the neck.
>>
>> I saw a music book on eBay for the "Stampede" album. It should have it in
>> there if you can get a copy of it.
>>
>> Scott
>>
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>
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