Perhaps I'm the very last person to discover this, but here's an easy way for banjo and mando players to pick out tunes on a non-tenor guitar, without changing fingering:
Drop the "B" string a whole tone to "A" so the guitar is tuned EADGAE. Then if you skip the "G" string when you are playing (and this is easier to do than it sounds) you have the top three strings of a mando or tenor banjo DAE, where most tunes are played.
Not for sessions perhaps, since you are unlikely to be heard. But great for playing a few tunes on your own or for amazing your friends with your multi-instrument dexterity.
You can sound like Keith Richards if you tune it GGDGBD, of course, you can also sound like Keef if you smoke 80 a day and swig a couple of bottles of JD!
try also dropping the A down to a G and you have all 4 strings
then drop the E down to an D and you have tenor banjo tuning with a drop D
quite a nice voice on the guitar for droning notes and chords over your own melody playing if you can put up with the G string in the middle
the extra middle G can also be used to good effect
either in melody lines or open chords
I use this tuning now and then on a baby Taylor (3/4 size with same scale length as 19 fret tenor banjo) and my full size guitar for practice when I get tired of playing a heavy banjo or for more sustain/chordal effect in tunes
it would be nice to be able to play melody and hear yourself in groups and sessions on guitar, however, I haven't quite found that elusive guitar with enough cut or volume to do this
I'm essentially a guitarist at heart who like many other guitarists involved in ITM play tunes on other instrument such as banjos, mandolins, fiddles etc
Tune the G down to E and you have EADEAE,whch is one of Marin Carthy's tunings.Tune it all the way down to D,EADDAE and that is a tuning that Dick Gaughan used to use for pipe tunes.
What nonesense ! tuning a guitar to DADGAD, or any other system is perfectly legitimate. I dont, but certainly they are entited to tune it as they choose wthout ignorant comments. How many tunes do you play on the guitar and in what system? Any?
EADDAE (low>high) works and gives a drone D as well
You only have to detune the B to A and the G to D (use that one for the drone as it gets pretty slack)
*yawn*, *stretch*
I've heard some *lazy bastards* can't be bothered changing their guitar tuning and actually buy whole new instruments like "banjos" or "mandolins" just to avoid doing this.
Or, worse, learn to play tunes in standard tuning
Not sure about it, i remember my teacher putting tape on at the start. I suppose if it gives kids confidence at the start and keeps them at it its a good thing?
one thing i noticed though is that on my two different fiddles is the slight difference in where the fingering needs to be to get the tuning 'on the money' and how does the fretter cope with that? But i suppose a beginner is only looking to get it vaugely in tune so my point is redundant?
Not the last, grego. That would probably be me. I'm such a lazy fitz that changing the tuning is that last option that occurs to me. I hate re-tuning because by the time the new tuning settles in I'm ready to go back to standard.
Drop the "B" string a whole tone to "A" so the guitar is tuned EADGAE. Then if you skip the "G" string when you are playing (and this is easier to do than it sounds) you have the top three strings of a mando or tenor banjo DAE, where most tunes are played. endof quote.
why not just tune daddae,then you haveyour three topstrings of the tenor banjo,if you want the G string TUNE DGDDAE,.Ibelieve this is what DickGaughan used on coppers and brass
DickMiles
Cheap trick for guitar tunes
Cheap trick for guitar tunes
Perhaps I'm the very last person to discover this, but here's an easy way for banjo and mando players to pick out tunes on a non-tenor guitar, without changing fingering:
Drop the "B" string a whole tone to "A" so the guitar is tuned EADGAE. Then if you skip the "G" string when you are playing (and this is easier to do than it sounds) you have the top three strings of a mando or tenor banjo DAE, where most tunes are played.
Not for sessions perhaps, since you are unlikely to be heard. But great for playing a few tunes on your own or for amazing your friends with your multi-instrument dexterity.
Happy New Year!
# Posted on December 31st 2007 by grego
Re: Cheap trick for guitar tunes
You can sound like Keith Richards if you tune it GGDGBD, of course, you can also sound like Keef if you smoke 80 a day and swig a couple of bottles of JD!
# Posted on December 31st 2007 by strayaway
Re: Cheap trick for guitar tunes
Hi grego,
try also dropping the A down to a G and you have all 4 strings
then drop the E down to an D and you have tenor banjo tuning with a drop D
quite a nice voice on the guitar for droning notes and chords over your own melody playing if you can put up with the G string in the middle
the extra middle G can also be used to good effect
either in melody lines or open chords
I use this tuning now and then on a baby Taylor (3/4 size with same scale length as 19 fret tenor banjo) and my full size guitar for practice when I get tired of playing a heavy banjo or for more sustain/chordal effect in tunes
it would be nice to be able to play melody and hear yourself in groups and sessions on guitar, however, I haven't quite found that elusive guitar with enough cut or volume to do this
I'm essentially a guitarist at heart who like many other guitarists involved in ITM play tunes on other instrument such as banjos, mandolins, fiddles etc
happy new year to all
# Posted on December 31st 2007 by BrendanDoherty
Re: Cheap trick for guitar tunes
you lazy bastards
# Posted on December 31st 2007 by llig leahcim
Re: Cheap trick for guitar tunes
Dont worry Michael, there's help out there for you too!
http://www.frettedfiddle.com/
# Posted on December 31st 2007 by Backer
Re: Cheap trick for guitar tunes
Not very PC Michael but I have to agree with you.
# Posted on December 31st 2007 by Bernie
Re: Cheap trick for guitar tunes
Tune the G down to E and you have EADEAE,whch is one of Marin Carthy's tunings.Tune it all the way down to D,EADDAE and that is a tuning that Dick Gaughan used to use for pipe tunes.
# Posted on December 31st 2007 by dafydd
Re: Cheap trick for guitar tunes
What nonesense ! tuning a guitar to DADGAD, or any other system is perfectly legitimate. I dont, but certainly they are entited to tune it as they choose wthout ignorant comments. How many tunes do you play on the guitar and in what system? Any?
# Posted on December 31st 2007 by jig
Re: Cheap trick for guitar tunes
How about EADGCF
# Posted on December 31st 2007 by jig
Re: Cheap trick for guitar tunes
sorry, posted befor i was finished! With the E as top string, so like a tenor banjo with two lower strings in 5ths.
# Posted on December 31st 2007 by jig
Re: Cheap trick for guitar tunes
EADDAE (low>high) works and gives a drone D as well
You only have to detune the B to A and the G to D (use that one for the drone as it gets pretty slack)
*yawn*, *stretch*
I've heard some *lazy bastards* can't be bothered changing their guitar tuning and actually buy whole new instruments like "banjos" or "mandolins" just to avoid doing this.
Or, worse, learn to play tunes in standard tuning
# Posted on December 31st 2007 by Bren
Re: Cheap trick for guitar tunes
Not sure about it, i remember my teacher putting tape on at the start. I suppose if it gives kids confidence at the start and keeps them at it its a good thing?
one thing i noticed though is that on my two different fiddles is the slight difference in where the fingering needs to be to get the tuning 'on the money' and how does the fretter cope with that? But i suppose a beginner is only looking to get it vaugely in tune so my point is redundant?
# Posted on December 31st 2007 by jfiddlerh
Re: Cheap trick for guitar tunes
Not the last, grego. That would probably be me. I'm such a lazy fitz that changing the tuning is that last option that occurs to me. I hate re-tuning because by the time the new tuning settles in I'm ready to go back to standard.
# Posted on December 31st 2007 by Bob himself
Re: Cheap trick for guitar tunes
Drop the "B" string a whole tone to "A" so the guitar is tuned EADGAE. Then if you skip the "G" string when you are playing (and this is easier to do than it sounds) you have the top three strings of a mando or tenor banjo DAE, where most tunes are played. endof quote.
why not just tune daddae,then you haveyour three topstrings of the tenor banjo,if you want the G string TUNE DGDDAE,.Ibelieve this is what DickGaughan used on coppers and brass
DickMiles
# Posted on December 31st 2007 by dickens metrognome
Re: Cheap trick for guitar tunes
Don't try it with a Gibson Les Paul. The owners can get a bit pithy!
# Posted on December 31st 2007 by Wurzel