I've added a set in GDGDAD.The ADADAD is from 6th to first string so you have to tune your low e and the a d and g strings way down so I use heavy gauge strings.As for the origin,I started tuning my guitar GDGDAE so that the top 4 strings were the same as the fiddle and mandolin.I couldn''t be arsed to learn the
tunes in DADGADand anyway I think that DADGAD has become a bit of a cliche. Update, the guitar was actually tuned BEBEBEand AEAEBE but the principle is the same.You get more string tension that way.
That fine piece of furniture at the National Folk Festival that is Tommy Carty, also tunes his Bouzouki ADAD.....sounds nice too !
Mine is GDAD....I'd find it hard to change over now...
"I started tuning my guitar GDGDAE so that the top 4 strings were the same as the fiddle..."
After many years of struggling with heavy / ultra-light guages in an attempt to duplicate fiddle fingering on the guitar, I have settled on the following: bottom string=E string tuned down to D, 5th=A string tuned down to G, 4th=D string tuned as normal, 3rd=either G-string tuned up to A OR B-string tuned down to A, depending on preference, 2nd string is E-string tuned to E, 1st = E-string tuned DOWN to D. The main fingering is on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th strings (EADG). The top string is very handy when playing up the neck as you can avoid the rapid hand-shifting by playing across strings one and two; but it takes a little getting used to, having the top string lower than the 2nd.
I should perhaps point out that I use nylon strings on a Craviola, but the tuning should work for steel-strung guitar.
Summary:- starting at the bottom, DGDAED, with two e-strings, the top one tuned down to D
Roger Tallroth of the Swedish group Vasen, has used ADADAD tuning on a 12 string guitar for years.. I started tuning my bouzouki ADAD after seeing him play ... makes for awesome backup chording ..
gam I think my G may have been an octace lower than yours. It was tuned to the G below normal 6th string D (bottom). 5th string was tuned to bottom D. Then it went up in 5ths G below middle C, DAE. Didn't really work for me as the lowest strings where a bit of a waste of time.
tdh-5th string tunes to G, below normal A 6th string tunes to D, below normal E, 4th string tunes to normal D, 3rd to A from either normal B (which I am using currently) or normal G 3rd string. 2nd string is normal top string E tuned to E. top string is also normal topstring tuned to D
E, A D G B E' normal
D, G D A E' D' gam system
Adadad
Adadad
I posted some videos to youtube in ADADAD.Does anyone else use this tuning?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlJykPN57l8&feature=channel
# Posted on June 19th 2009 by dafydd
Re: Adadad
Just to clarify that ADADAD is from 1st string to 6th string? What string gauges do you use? Enjoyed the arrangement.
# Posted on June 19th 2009 by Tony O'Rourke
Re: Adadad
It sounds beautiful, thanks for sharing.
I've never heard of that tuning before, does it have a specific origin?
# Posted on June 19th 2009 by Glass of Beer
Re: Adadad
I sometimes tune my bouzouki ADAD. Does that count?
# Posted on June 19th 2009 by greg sheils
Re: Adadad
I've added a set in GDGDAD.The ADADAD is from 6th to first string so you have to tune your low e and the a d and g strings way down so I use heavy gauge strings.As for the origin,I started tuning my guitar GDGDAE so that the top 4 strings were the same as the fiddle and mandolin.I couldn''t be arsed to learn the
tunes in DADGADand anyway I think that DADGAD has become a bit of a cliche. Update, the guitar was actually tuned BEBEBEand AEAEBE but the principle is the same.You get more string tension that way.
# Posted on June 19th 2009 by dafydd
Re: Adadad
Very pretty Dafyd..thanks for that.
# Posted on June 19th 2009 by zoukboy
Re: Adadad
That fine piece of furniture at the National Folk Festival that is Tommy Carty, also tunes his Bouzouki ADAD.....sounds nice too !
Mine is GDAD....I'd find it hard to change over now...
# Posted on June 19th 2009 by zoukboy
Re: Adadad
"I started tuning my guitar GDGDAE so that the top 4 strings were the same as the fiddle..."
After many years of struggling with heavy / ultra-light guages in an attempt to duplicate fiddle fingering on the guitar, I have settled on the following: bottom string=E string tuned down to D, 5th=A string tuned down to G, 4th=D string tuned as normal, 3rd=either G-string tuned up to A OR B-string tuned down to A, depending on preference, 2nd string is E-string tuned to E, 1st = E-string tuned DOWN to D. The main fingering is on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th strings (EADG). The top string is very handy when playing up the neck as you can avoid the rapid hand-shifting by playing across strings one and two; but it takes a little getting used to, having the top string lower than the 2nd.
I should perhaps point out that I use nylon strings on a Craviola, but the tuning should work for steel-strung guitar.
Summary:- starting at the bottom, DGDAED, with two e-strings, the top one tuned down to D
# Posted on June 19th 2009 by gam
Re: Adadad
That is a very good idea.
# Posted on June 19th 2009 by dafydd
Re: Adadad
I tried GDGDAE and couldn't get over intonation problems and I couldn't get the string weights quite right.
DGDAED sounds the ticket I'm definitely going to try it. But what weight strings?
# Posted on June 19th 2009 by greg sheils
Re: Adadad
Roger Tallroth of the Swedish group Vasen, has used ADADAD tuning on a 12 string guitar for years.. I started tuning my bouzouki ADAD after seeing him play ... makes for awesome backup chording ..
# Posted on June 19th 2009 by jardineromi
Re: Adadad
Heavy gauge for the bottom three strings.
# Posted on June 20th 2009 by dafydd
Re: Adadad
TDHarry--I use the same weight as I was using before. The most you re-tune from standard is only two semitones.
# Posted on June 22nd 2009 by gam
Re: Adadad
CGCGCD
# Posted on June 22nd 2009 by lisaniska
Re: Adadad
gam I think my G may have been an octace lower than yours. It was tuned to the G below normal 6th string D (bottom). 5th string was tuned to bottom D. Then it went up in 5ths G below middle C, DAE. Didn't really work for me as the lowest strings where a bit of a waste of time.
# Posted on June 22nd 2009 by greg sheils
Re: Adadad
CGCGCD,I call that Martin Carthy tuning.
# Posted on June 23rd 2009 by dafydd
Re: Adadad
tdh-5th string tunes to G, below normal A 6th string tunes to D, below normal E, 4th string tunes to normal D, 3rd to A from either normal B (which I am using currently) or normal G 3rd string. 2nd string is normal top string E tuned to E. top string is also normal topstring tuned to D
E, A D G B E' normal
D, G D A E' D' gam system
# Posted on June 24th 2009 by gam