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| HOME / I GOTCHER TUNINGS ... RIGHT HERE |
I GOTCHER TUNINGS ... RIGHT HERE
Here are, pretty much, all the various modal tunings I've acquired over the years. Each one represents an entirely new frontier of discovery! Actually, I'm using the term rather loosely: There are Dropped tunings ... Modal tunings ... Open tunings ... Transposed tunings ... and there's even something called a "Nashville Tuning."
DROPPED TUNINGS
E-A-D-G-B-D was the very first altered tuning I ever used, and may be the most common-used form of altering a normal guitar tuning. It happens by simply dropping the high-E string to a D, and playing as you normally do. A standard C chord-fingering creates a C9 chord ... it's absolute heaven. Standard rule of thumb is, "Don't finger the changed string, just let it drone." The G chord has a brighter character, and the D chord puffs it's chest ... the Em falls into an Em7 ... making you feel like you've suddenly sprouted wings. Another common dropped tuning is to also lower the low-E string to a D, so you wind up with D-A-D-G-B-D ... check out Neil Young's "Harvest Moon"; Buffalo Springfield's "Bluebird"; The Doors' "The End"; Nirvana's "All Apologies"; The Beatles' "Dear Prudence"; I could go on! Don McLean's "Vincent" presents another variation: D-G-D-G-B-E. Basically, if one or two strings are lowered in pitch, it constitutes a dropped tuning. I never heard of a "Raised" tuning ... but there are no rules I know of.
by Alan Horvath
E-A-D-G-B-D
D-A-D-G-B-D
D-G-D-G-B-E (Don McLean's "Vincent")
MODAL TUNINGS
The first real modal tuning I ever learned was D-A-D-G-A-D. It may be the oldest one around, coming out of traditional English and Irish folk styles. Basically, "modal" tunings are any non-chordal tunings. That is to say they don't constitute a chord of and by themselves, as do "open" tunings. Here are most of the ones I'm familiar with:
OPEN TUNINGS
An open tuning is any tuning that produces a chord when strummed "open" ... meaning no left-hand action. Usually Major or Minor chords are applied ... sometimes 7th chords ... but 6ths can be transcendent, and you can modify the Majors and Minors till the cows come home, and come up with yet another variation. I'm convinced at this stage of the game, however, that there are no "new" variations. I believe every musician in the world has come to that place where he just KNOWS he invented theeee new chord! But such a place is always found very early in the musician's career ... rest assured. Have at it, though! Open tunings are a real blast!:
TRANSPOSED TUNINGS
This one's simple. If you use a capo, you are creating a transposed tuning ... but most commonly, it involves dropping the whole tuning of the guitar down a half step. This is something very common with Nashville players, where I picked up the habit ... and also with Heavy Metal players. The "Horvath Open G Tuning" is a Transposed Open G Tuning ... technically, an Open F# Tuning ... or, I guess you could also call it an Open Gb Tuning. I call it, "An Open G Tuning; down a half step." and then I watch the musicians wince!
THE NASHVILLE TUNING
This one is hot! I learned this from a producer, and very good friend of mine, Scott Turner. You buy a set of strings for 12-string guitar. Take the THIN strings from #6, #5, #4, and #3 ... and the regulars from #2, and #1; twist 'em up and play the brightest acoustic sound on the planet! Works beautifully on overdubs, etc. Personally, I've never used a Nashville Tuning, but I've worked with people who have, and it's pretty exciting.
NOTE: If you want to cop a cool book, Mark Hanson has written a "quickie" on the subject, for only $5.95, called "The Alternate Tunings Guide for Guitar" ... or ... he's got a more elaborate work, titled "The Complete Book of Alternate Tunings."
Alan Horvath has been writing songs, performing, and recording as an acoustic rock artist for many moons.
If you want to know more, you can visit his site: AlanHorvath.Com