Methods of tuning the open strings on a guitar or other chordophone that differ from what is considered to be standard.
2
votes
2answers
89 views
Which early danceband guitarists tuned to Eb rather than E? [closed]
Often, nowadays, guitarists will tune to Eb etc.as a matter of course, for various reasons.I'm thinking of the 1930s and 40s, when guitarists were playing in dance bands.A lot of the music they played ...
0
votes
1answer
91 views
What gauge strings should I use for A# tuning on an electric guitar [duplicate]
I play heavy metal songs from bands such as Parkway Drive, Bring me the Horizon, Northlane etc. which play in A# guitar tuning.
What gauge strings are appropriate for that?
5
votes
4answers
101 views
Memorising the fretboard when using dropped tunings? [duplicate]
I'm trying to memorise the notes on the fretboard so that I can more easily apply some of the chordal and scale theory I've been learning, but I downtune quite a lot (half-step down, whole step down, ...
2
votes
2answers
159 views
Is there any alternative to using capo?
I don't have/want to use capo for my guitar.
Can a specific tuning be applied as an alternative to capo?
-2
votes
4answers
213 views
What's the most useful alternate tuning and why? [closed]
Whenever a guitarist wants to learn an alternate tuning, the practical details are easily addressed (string-guage, using a tuner). But the strategic aspect cannot be gained without many Saturday ...
9
votes
2answers
175 views
How can I easily manage different tunings?
This is probably appropriate for a range of instruments, and I have seen mentioned in other questions that professional musicians can cope easily with transpositions, different instruments that play ...
8
votes
3answers
204 views
What guitar tunings allow many chords without fretting between “live” strings
When playing the guitar, I find it difficult to fret a string without touching the string on either side and ruining the sound. Open tunings make it very easy to play one type of chord by barring ...
5
votes
0answers
125 views
Has anyone encountered G-D-d-f-g#-b tuning (guitar) [closed]
For many months, I've been playing my guitar tuned G-D-d-f-g#-b:
| G (+3 above standard)
| D (-5 below standard)
| d (standard pitch)
| f (-2 below standard)
| g# (-3 below ...
2
votes
3answers
456 views
How to effectively of use a lower tuned guitar
I'm experimenting with the Open C tuning (CGCGCE) in my guitar and I'm facing some problems, namely that the strings don't stay in tune for too long and the sound is "weird". I then realized that ...
6
votes
8answers
451 views
Dealing with different tunings on stage
I play guitar in an acoustic trio (vocalist, steelstring-guitar, double bass).
Currently I use 7 different open tunings in the setlist.
So I have to retune quite often, and we have to deal with the ...
5
votes
3answers
537 views
What is the true definition of Drop C tuning?
Since I play bass I will tackle this question from a bass guitar perspective.
I've had some musicians state that the following tuning is Drop C tuning (E is dropped to D, and then all strings are ...
6
votes
2answers
901 views
Tuning the Ouds
How many strings do various types of ouds (Arab, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Greek, Persia, etc.) have and how are they usually tuned (with pitch reference or not) to what absolute or relative pitches?
5
votes
3answers
1k views
Which strings should I use for DADGAD tuning on my acoustic guitar?
I have recently switched to DADGAD tuning, before that I was using light tension strings ( 12 16 24 32 42 53 ).
But because of DADGAD, to compensate for the lack of tension on the neck, I wanted to ...
0
votes
1answer
193 views
How does the tuning differ between a concert and soprano ukulele?
I am getting a new concert ukulele and I was wondering whether the tuning is different for a concert?
is it still GCEA? or is there a better sounding tuning than soprano standard?
2
votes
1answer
212 views
Tuning a Strat a whole step down
I'd like to tune a Strat a whole step down, and I was wondering what gauge of strings I should use to get the same tension that I get in normal tuning with .010 strings.
Cheers
8
votes
1answer
185 views
What kind of edition and tuning to use to study Bach's fifth cello suite ?
As is well known, this suite was composed for a cello with a scordatura tuning C-G-d-g instead of the classical C-G-d-a.
I have seen almost every possible combination:
edition for specially-tuned ...
4
votes
1answer
656 views
How do I tune a Ukulele 1 semi-tone higher?
How can I tune a Ukulele so it's one semi-tone higher? Can this be used for 2/3 semi-tones as well?
I've tried using a capo but it makes it a lot harder to play.
9
votes
2answers
335 views
What is an “open tuning”?
I know that Keith Richards has been known to use open tunings on some songs, but what is an open tuning exactly and when/why would you use it?
17
votes
9answers
9k views
Why do some artists tune their guitars half a step or whole step down?
Is there a reason some guitarists tune down half or whole steps, other than preference or style?
It bugs me sometimes when I would like to play along with a song only to find that it's played down ...
6
votes
3answers
150 views
Does this guitar tuning have a name?
I've had a few suggestions as to an "official" name for this tuning, but what do you lot think?
From high e to bass...
e B F# C# G# D#
4
votes
8answers
223 views
Using alternative tunings
Guitars are tuned E-A-D-G-B-E by standard, but I prefer tuning it down to C (C-F-Bb-Eb-G-C) since it gives a meatier sound and is easier on my fingers.
I know there are plenty of other tunings, but ...
11
votes
9answers
5k views
Why is dropped D tuning used so often?
Many metal/rock songs use dropped D tuning. What reasons are there for it?
