I am interested in comparing notes with other guitar players using alternate tunings - especially DADEAE - I have been playing guitar for ..... yikes! 34 years and used standard tuning exclusively. After getting serious about playing rhythm with a bunch of Irish/Celtic fanatics in southern Maryland - I became frustrated with standard tuning .... that, plus my lifelong aversion for barr chords, and an awareness or hand cramping that I never noticed when I was younger......... I dreaded every time a Bm chord came up in a tune.
I attended a one day workshop put on by John Brennan of Philadelphia and immediately saw the simplicity and versitality of DADEAE tuning. It was a pain in the butt to relearn everything - but I have been using this tuning for more than a year now and love it!!!!! I am a convert!
I had a hard time with plain drop-D because it seemed like it was great for D chords - but messed up everything else utilizing the sixth string. I might have considered DADGAD if someone had shown me how to use it sooner - but I am really happy with DADEAE. Not being particularly satisfied with Paul DeGrae's Irish Rhythm Guitar book - a friend and I are trying to put together a DADEAE primer..........a worthy project but not enough time to work on it.
Anyone interested in starting some conversation on this subject - comparing experiences, tips etc.?
I've also been a guitarist for 34 years - hurts to say that number, doesn't it?
I've use DADGAD, DADGAE, open-E and CACGCE (Jimmy Page used that one on "Bron-Y-Aur", which is how I discovered it), but not DADEAE. I'm going to have to play around with it now.
Speaking of tunings, have you heard much of Richard THompson's stuff? He's the tuning king!
I've also been a guitarist for 34 years - hurts to say that number, doesn't it?
I've use DADGAD, DADGAE, open-E and CACGCE (Jimmy Page used that one on "Bron-Y-Aur", which is how I discovered it), but not DADEAE. I'm going to have to play around with it now.
Speaking of tunings, have you heard much of Richard Thompson's stuff? He's the tuning king!
34 years actually has a respectfull ring to it - it is just that I feel like I should sound a lot better than I do after that much time......
A friend of mine play a bunch of Richard Thompson's tunes and they are great!
DADEAE is really only a little different from your DADGAE - DADEAE was originated by Martin Carthy - although, I think he may keep the second string on B these days.
I like the way that you can hit several positions for chords that emphasize either the treble or bass - also being able to utilize most of the guitar neck - not having to live life within the first three frets.....
Also, I have not had to utilize a capo in over a year - except that if you play along with recordings, sometimes everything is raised a half step. Cathel Hayden is like that - I find that a capo on the first fret makes everything in sync....
Do you know of any good webpages about DADEAE? There are alot of pages about DADGAD with tips on chords and chordpatterns to help you get along, but I haven't found any about DADEAE.
I've only played the guitar for about 25 years so I,m kind of a newbie!
Until now I've been using standard tuning, but now I feel I must go on with modal or open tunings.
Lars
I have not been able to find any sites specifically dealing with DADEAE - but if you go to YAHOO and do a search on DADEAE - quite a few sites pop up. Anyone else know of a good site for this tuning?
Well I haven't made a search on Yahoo, but on Google and most of the links led to dicographies describing the guitarists tuning or comments about how different guitar players tune their guitar. Not one site with substantial information. So I guess I will start with the DADGAD anyway.
Steve, your experience and encouragement in using DADEAE is timely. I'm a relative new player, 4 years, mostly Delta Blues. I've been enchanted by ITRAD for the last 6 months and have been struggling with what to focus on. Playing melody in Standard Tuning is relatively easy, at least to my low standards. I've been learning tunes from Julie Henigan's DADGAD Tuniong Book. I just got Paul DeGrae's book and really like the sound of DADEAE. As you said you can emphasize either treble or bass using the entire neck. I'm thinking of getting committed to that tuning and forgo the rest for awhile. I appreciate your input.
I have dabbled in different tunings and still use DADGAD occasionally, mostly for fingerpicking, but returned to standard tuning a couple of years ago and have decided to stick with it.
Its a matter of personal preference and circumstances. Most of what I accompany is scottish ceilidh music and I find the occasional use of standard tuning with bar chords gives the sort of sound I want e.g. a sort of staccato backing on Strathspeys with bar chords. We have loads of stuff in amin which I would not try in DADGAD. I also have a go at shetland swing (similar to texas swing in its roots), have a go is how to describe it, occasionally and the normal tuning suits it for me personally, with the bass runs. This is all possible in another tuning I know but EADGBE generally is fine for me. I think all the tunings including standard have their advantages and disadvantages.
In the last year or so I have found playing tunes in standard tuning easier the more I do it (but still have a long way to go). I also took a long hard look at my flatpicking and tried to make some improvements based on really basic things like, my timing, consistent pick direction, tone. I got some brutal critisism from someone notable in the guitar world once and took it like a man, he was correct.
I started to lear tunes by ear last summer and have noticed as with the flatpicking the more I did it the easier it became, at first it was pretty painful then it became easier. You get the feel of the tune better if you hear it. I only look at music if I think I might be playing the tune wrong or I can't make out something on the slowed down version recorded on the tape. People say learning this way helps you remember the tunes better and I think this is true.
I have been playing in DADEAE for about two years, ever since using it to reproduce (very badly) a Martin Carthy tune and finding that it works really well for some Paul Brady and other finger-picked numbers.
I annoyed those I play with by trying to persuade them to fit in with that tuning for a whole lot of other songs and tunes and used this tuning as a pure strummed accompaniment in a local session where others are more used to DADGAD
Questions: Are you playing tunes in a wide variety of keys or mainly D and G?
Are you using the tuning only for Irish music or a wider range?
Graham
I use this tuning primarily for Irish music but, since I have not retuned to standard tuning - I attempt to use it for everything - with varying success. Most of what I play is in the keys of D, E, G, A and Bm - I try to avoid G because it does not seem to sound a good as the other keys - but the box player and fiddler that I play with seem to have a large number of tunes in G. What Martin Carthy tune did you learn? I am a big fan of his - also Paul Brady
I am still struggling with learning the note positions on the strings. Although I am not super proficient at sight reading in the first place - I learned everything in standard tuning. I find myself now resorting more to learning notation by ear or tab rather than reading actual sheet music.
I play in a folkband a duet concertina, a Chemnitzer Konzertina and guitar, tuned in DADEAE.. The other two musicians play drums and pipes. So I need my guitar for accompaniment and for melody playing. I play this tuning now for 2 years and it is very good. I only have problems when the melody is going over the frontier d (b 5th fret) and e (e open).
I like it two change the melody between thumb ( like a carter picking) ang the other fingers. The DADEAE is very flexibel in order to change between accompaniment and melody.
Alternate tunings for rhythm guitar - DADEAE?
Alternate tunings for rhythm guitar - DADEAE?
I am interested in comparing notes with other guitar players using alternate tunings - especially DADEAE - I have been playing guitar for ..... yikes! 34 years and used standard tuning exclusively. After getting serious about playing rhythm with a bunch of Irish/Celtic fanatics in southern Maryland - I became frustrated with standard tuning .... that, plus my lifelong aversion for barr chords, and an awareness or hand cramping that I never noticed when I was younger......... I dreaded every time a Bm chord came up in a tune.
I attended a one day workshop put on by John Brennan of Philadelphia and immediately saw the simplicity and versitality of DADEAE tuning. It was a pain in the butt to relearn everything - but I have been using this tuning for more than a year now and love it!!!!! I am a convert!
I had a hard time with plain drop-D because it seemed like it was great for D chords - but messed up everything else utilizing the sixth string. I might have considered DADGAD if someone had shown me how to use it sooner - but I am really happy with DADEAE. Not being particularly satisfied with Paul DeGrae's Irish Rhythm Guitar book - a friend and I are trying to put together a DADEAE primer..........a worthy project but not enough time to work on it.
Anyone interested in starting some conversation on this subject - comparing experiences, tips etc.?
Steve
# Posted on January 11th 2002 by Rice-st
Re: Alternate tunings for rhythm guitar - DADEAE?
Hey Steve -
I've also been a guitarist for 34 years - hurts to say that number, doesn't it?
I've use DADGAD, DADGAE, open-E and CACGCE (Jimmy Page used that one on "Bron-Y-Aur", which is how I discovered it), but not DADEAE. I'm going to have to play around with it now.
Speaking of tunings, have you heard much of Richard THompson's stuff? He's the tuning king!
Jeff
# Posted on January 11th 2002 by JeffK627
Re: Alternate tunings for rhythm guitar - DADEAE?
Hey Steve -
I've also been a guitarist for 34 years - hurts to say that number, doesn't it?
I've use DADGAD, DADGAE, open-E and CACGCE (Jimmy Page used that one on "Bron-Y-Aur", which is how I discovered it), but not DADEAE. I'm going to have to play around with it now.
Speaking of tunings, have you heard much of Richard Thompson's stuff? He's the tuning king!
Jeff
# Posted on January 11th 2002 by JeffK627
Re: Alternate tunings for rhythm guitar - DADEAE?
Jeff,
34 years actually has a respectfull ring to it - it is just that I feel like I should sound a lot better than I do after that much time......
A friend of mine play a bunch of Richard Thompson's tunes and they are great!
DADEAE is really only a little different from your DADGAE - DADEAE was originated by Martin Carthy - although, I think he may keep the second string on B these days.
I like the way that you can hit several positions for chords that emphasize either the treble or bass - also being able to utilize most of the guitar neck - not having to live life within the first three frets.....
Also, I have not had to utilize a capo in over a year - except that if you play along with recordings, sometimes everything is raised a half step. Cathel Hayden is like that - I find that a capo on the first fret makes everything in sync....
Steve
# Posted on January 11th 2002 by Rice-st
Re: Alternate tunings for rhythm guitar - DADEAE?
Do you know of any good webpages about DADEAE? There are alot of pages about DADGAD with tips on chords and chordpatterns to help you get along, but I haven't found any about DADEAE.
I've only played the guitar for about 25 years so I,m kind of a newbie!
Until now I've been using standard tuning, but now I feel I must go on with modal or open tunings.
Lars
# Posted on January 11th 2002 by lars
Re: Alternate tunings for rhythm guitar - DADEAE?
Lars,
I have not been able to find any sites specifically dealing with DADEAE - but if you go to YAHOO and do a search on DADEAE - quite a few sites pop up. Anyone else know of a good site for this tuning?
Steve
# Posted on January 13th 2002 by Rice-st
Re: Alternate tunings for rhythm guitar - DADEAE?
Well I haven't made a search on Yahoo, but on Google and most of the links led to dicographies describing the guitarists tuning or comments about how different guitar players tune their guitar. Not one site with substantial information. So I guess I will start with the DADGAD anyway.
# Posted on January 14th 2002 by lars
Re: Alternate tunings for rhythm guitar - DADEAE?
Steve, your experience and encouragement in using DADEAE is timely. I'm a relative new player, 4 years, mostly Delta Blues. I've been enchanted by ITRAD for the last 6 months and have been struggling with what to focus on. Playing melody in Standard Tuning is relatively easy, at least to my low standards. I've been learning tunes from Julie Henigan's DADGAD Tuniong Book. I just got Paul DeGrae's book and really like the sound of DADEAE. As you said you can emphasize either treble or bass using the entire neck. I'm thinking of getting committed to that tuning and forgo the rest for awhile. I appreciate your input.
# Posted on January 18th 2002 by mike880
Re: Alternate tunings for rhythm guitar - DADEAE?
I have dabbled in different tunings and still use DADGAD occasionally, mostly for fingerpicking, but returned to standard tuning a couple of years ago and have decided to stick with it.
Its a matter of personal preference and circumstances. Most of what I accompany is scottish ceilidh music and I find the occasional use of standard tuning with bar chords gives the sort of sound I want e.g. a sort of staccato backing on Strathspeys with bar chords. We have loads of stuff in amin which I would not try in DADGAD. I also have a go at shetland swing (similar to texas swing in its roots), have a go is how to describe it, occasionally and the normal tuning suits it for me personally, with the bass runs. This is all possible in another tuning I know but EADGBE generally is fine for me. I think all the tunings including standard have their advantages and disadvantages.
In the last year or so I have found playing tunes in standard tuning easier the more I do it (but still have a long way to go). I also took a long hard look at my flatpicking and tried to make some improvements based on really basic things like, my timing, consistent pick direction, tone. I got some brutal critisism from someone notable in the guitar world once and took it like a man, he was correct.
I started to lear tunes by ear last summer and have noticed as with the flatpicking the more I did it the easier it became, at first it was pretty painful then it became easier. You get the feel of the tune better if you hear it. I only look at music if I think I might be playing the tune wrong or I can't make out something on the slowed down version recorded on the tape. People say learning this way helps you remember the tunes better and I think this is true.
Bill
# Posted on January 30th 2002 by BillMuir
Re: Alternate tunings for rhythm guitar - DADEAE?
I have been playing in DADEAE for about two years, ever since using it to reproduce (very badly) a Martin Carthy tune and finding that it works really well for some Paul Brady and other finger-picked numbers.
I annoyed those I play with by trying to persuade them to fit in with that tuning for a whole lot of other songs and tunes and used this tuning as a pure strummed accompaniment in a local session where others are more used to DADGAD
Questions: Are you playing tunes in a wide variety of keys or mainly D and G?
Are you using the tuning only for Irish music or a wider range?
Graham
# Posted on March 9th 2002 by graham
Re: Alternate tunings for rhythm guitar - DADEAE?
Graham,
I use this tuning primarily for Irish music but, since I have not retuned to standard tuning - I attempt to use it for everything - with varying success. Most of what I play is in the keys of D, E, G, A and Bm - I try to avoid G because it does not seem to sound a good as the other keys - but the box player and fiddler that I play with seem to have a large number of tunes in G. What Martin Carthy tune did you learn? I am a big fan of his - also Paul Brady
I am still struggling with learning the note positions on the strings. Although I am not super proficient at sight reading in the first place - I learned everything in standard tuning. I find myself now resorting more to learning notation by ear or tab rather than reading actual sheet music.
Steve
# Posted on March 18th 2002 by Rice-st
Re: Alternate tunings for rhythm guitar - DADEAE?
I play in a folkband a duet concertina, a Chemnitzer Konzertina and guitar, tuned in DADEAE.. The other two musicians play drums and pipes. So I need my guitar for accompaniment and for melody playing. I play this tuning now for 2 years and it is very good. I only have problems when the melody is going over the frontier d (b 5th fret) and e (e open).
I like it two change the melody between thumb ( like a carter picking) ang the other fingers. The DADEAE is very flexibel in order to change between accompaniment and melody.
# Posted on July 31st 2002 by Heinrich