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Kieron · Joined: 02 Dec 2005 Posts: 909 Location: Edinburgh

I was just wondering if anyone ever plays around with different guitar tunings? I had a friend stay this weekend, and he detuned one of mine for me (without asking, damn him!) and it actually sounds really nice. It's fun too, just seeing what kind of noises you can make. The tuning is (from the low string) CGCGGC, and sounds good just to strum the whole lot without fretting, which means it should sound good for using a slide (how fancy!). Anyone else got tips or owt?

jack fe · Joined: 08 Apr 2006 Posts: 865

Nah, I'm not really into changing tunings. Only for slide guiatar really (like you said), which I don't do often.
I sometimes use drop D, but thats it. I know someone who uses different tunings for everything and I think it sounds terrible.
Sometimes it can be cool, but genally it's pointless.
I just use a capo a lot.
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Dav · Posted: Tue Sep 26, 2006 4:35 pm Post subject:

I never use a capo, i tune my guitar with the sound of my phone, i really don't know anything about tuning, thanks for the tip Kieron, i'll give it a shot
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andyBLR · Posted: Tue Sep 26, 2006 8:14 pm Post subject:

the only differnet tuning i use really is BEBEBE which nick drake uses quite abit, because it's so low i usually use a capo aswell. sounds really nice and is really easy to play once you get used to what sounds good, and you can just look at the nick drake songs in that tuning to cheat, you don't even have to work it out yourself.

captainfudgies · Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 8:59 am Post subject:

well, i use some other tunings for lead guitars (while recording, i won't play lead guitar in concert), mostly EADGHE or EADGF#HE. dropped d sounds also great, but my favorite tuning is EGDGED, you can hear this one often on sonic youth tunes.
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jack fe · Joined: 08 Apr 2006 Posts: 865

H?
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Dav · Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 10:07 am Post subject:

andyBLR · Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 10:19 am Post subject:

i used to live live with a swedish girl that played keyboard who used to refer to H as well, i think it was the same as G#, but i'm not sure. Anyone else?

captainfudgies · Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2006 11:34 pm Post subject:

Kieron · Joined: 02 Dec 2005 Posts: 909 Location: Edinburgh

To avoid confusion with the 'flat' notation used? Which is normally a small b. So B flat is Bb. Perhaps?

andyBLR · Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 2:22 pm Post subject:

that's right, it was the b not the G#
these crazy europeans

Kieron · Joined: 02 Dec 2005 Posts: 909 Location: Edinburgh

It is funny though, cos just the other day I was reading how G# is sometimes represented as an H. Can't remember where I read it though... How confusing!

bibasse · Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 353 Location: Cholet, France

I'll definitely try your tunings. I play a lot with tunings, they range from one to four strings. I also love when an upper string is lowered to the note of the string below, like the first one of Kieran. I always find the sound quite powerful.
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joeletigre · Joined: 21 Dec 2005 Posts: 95

i never use any but i know some that sonic youth use
like F#F#GGAA on schyzophrenia (the 2 low strings are tuned exactly the same, the two high ones too and the 2 middle one are one octave (does that exist in english ??? well, whatever) different
or CGDGBB on sunday
i like the way they use two string at the same exact note to make that echo effect
try detuning the high E string at the same level as the B one it sounds magical
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Kieron · Joined: 02 Dec 2005 Posts: 909 Location: Edinburgh

Hey Nic, is dropped D tuning when both the E strings are set to D? Or just the low E string? I've been playing around with them both dropped to D. Sounds really ace, and I can still play some chords in the same shape as standard tuning, which is nice. Apparently it's Neil Young's favourite tuning after standard! At least, I think.