Well, that’s a new one on me. It looks like you wind up with a second string (high F#) that’s higher than the first string (high E). Or am I misinterpreting the octaves?
The only reason I can think of for a non standard tuning like this is, it helps screw up folk who want to borrow your guitar. Even then some of 'em would re-tune it all wrong anyway.
it enabled me to play melody and modal chords easier than in standard,and produced a dulcimer sound ,that i couldnt get easily in dadgad.
the same song works well in standard ,but sounds totally different.
Wyogal, not meaning to speak for Dickens, but a dulcimer sound on the guitar usually means one has a lot of open string drones ringing away while playing the melody or or other line. This creates a sound similar to a dulcimer (which also has a lot open string drones). Most players find it easier to get this sound by strumming with a flat pick, but there are various ways fingerstyle players can do it too.
Dickens, as others have noted, the convention for guitar tunings is to list them low to high. I too was thrown off for a moment. If you're thinking of this tuning as being centered in the key of B, then it might work well for getting modal sounds. It doesn't have a 3rd in it, and you have the 4th on the top and the bottom strings. In ways, very much like DADGAD in creating that unresolved, harmonically undefined modal
sound.
Cool.
I use various tunings, mostly DADGAD. I've always been able to get a respectable dulcimer sound in DADGAD, but a key part of developing a style is doing what works for you.
yes,fingerpicking,your probably more au fait with dadgad,
i often use dadgbd,I just managed to get going,with this song easily in ebf#bf#e,or low to high ef#bf#be.
Hey, dickens, I never came across anybody listing tunings high to low before, are you left-handed or something ?
Anyways, I gave it a go, with the 1st string tuned to D sharp, made a quick and dirty test to hear what it's like
nice Wolfbird.
I found playing, using finger picking on middle four strings,a dominant modal chord,by frettingsecond fret secondand fourth strings,
and a sub dominant ,fitfh fret,third and fourth strings using all other strings open.
and by using top five string,with firststring fretted on third fret,a tonic [modal two note ist and fifth chord].
the tuning I guess is a modal sus4.
anyway your guitar playing sounds much better than mine.
Thanks for the compliment, dickens, just messing about really to get the feel of the tuning. I tried another, with 6th tuned to low B, it's quite an interesting tuning to play around with.
I haverecorded adieu sweet lovely nancy,using e bf#bf#e,unfortunately itson sound lantern as a blank at present. [john cage strikes again ]I will try and upload it again tomorrow.
still experimenting,tried MY DARLING ASLEEP seemed to work quite easily,actually took it off guitar tab in dadgad,notation for top two strings in
dadgad ,worked by taking it down a string.
top two dadgad strings [a d] are same interval as b to f#.
I am wondering whether to risk tuning fourth string b up to e,that would give same relationship,between ,fourth,thirdand second strings,as dadgad,123 strings,
or
to try this, tuned down a tone, low to high dedead,or dadead the last [sounds like one of Carthys tuning].
e f#b f#d# , low to high is good,you have sixth string open for your sub dominant chord,5 string open for your dominant chord,4 string open for your tonic chord,picking alot of the melody on second third and fourth string.
your top three strings are now an open major chord .so you can also half bar for[three chord trick]and use one bass as a drone.
Dickens wrote "I am wondering whether to risk tuning fourth string b up to e,that would give same relationship,between fourth, third and second strings,as dadgad,123 strings, or to try this, tuned down a tone, low to high dedead,or dadead the last [sounds like one of Carthys tuning].
Raising the fourth string up to E will probably be interesting too,
but I suspect having 3 strings tuned to E will shift the tonal center of the tuning. I'm not saying you won't be able to play in B, but it will be a B with 3 strings tuned to the 4th of the key.
I was messing about with it this morning, and really liked it. Started by moving a couple arrangements from DADGAD, and they shifted over fairly well. I don't have any way to post a recording at the moment though. We just moved and most of my gear is still boxed up.
DADEAD is a tuning others use- I've come across it a few times. I even saw a book on arranging Irish tunes for guitar by that used DADEAD for all the arrangements. Don't remember the title or author, but I think it was published by Ossian Press.
e b f#bf#e guitar tuning
e b f#bf#e guitar tuning
anyone. tried this for ITM?
I tried it on a song ,nice dulcimer affect,for playing melodies.
I was playing in b major,so capo on 3rd fet for d major.
# Posted on April 11th 2008 by Dick Miles
Re: e b f#bf#e guitar tuning
Jeez...I am just getting used to the switch from the Joe Burke Bass on my box to John Williams Salterelle bass.
Now I have to retune all my guitars? How does this work for a 12 string?
# Posted on April 11th 2008 by zippydw
Re: e b f#bf#e guitar tuning
Do you need a special set of strings for that?
some of the strings are tuned up a 5th.
If the strings don't break, it'll turn the neck into a pretzel!
# Posted on April 11th 2008 by B Rad
Re: e b f#bf#e guitar tuning
Well, that’s a new one on me. It looks like you wind up with a second string (high F#) that’s higher than the first string (high E). Or am I misinterpreting the octaves?
# Posted on April 11th 2008 by Bob himself
Re: e b f#bf#e guitar tuning
It'd be ok on a square neck Dobro if you wear eye protection.
# Posted on April 11th 2008 by ∅
Re: e b f#bf#e guitar tuning
Oh, you've got the strings listed high to low. Now it makes sense.
# Posted on April 11th 2008 by Bob himself
Re: e b f#bf#e guitar tuning
"Do you need a special set of strings for that?
some of the strings are tuned up a 5th"
Assuming Dick has listed the strings high-to-low,
3nd string is down a semitone
4th string is down a minor 3rd
5th string is down a minor 3rd
1st, 2nd and 6th strings are unchanged
so no string is tuned *higher* than its standard pitch.
# Posted on April 11th 2008 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: e b f#bf#e guitar tuning
correct,granama,.
it seemed to work okay in tunes ,which are harmonised with three major chords.
# Posted on April 12th 2008 by Dick Miles
Re: e b f#bf#e guitar tuning
I've only seen tunings listed low to high, that's why I was confused.
# Posted on April 12th 2008 by B Rad
Re: e b f#bf#e guitar tuning
The only reason I can think of for a non standard tuning like this is, it helps screw up folk who want to borrow your guitar. Even then some of 'em would re-tune it all wrong anyway.
# Posted on April 12th 2008 by Bernie
Re: e b f#bf#e guitar tuning
it enabled me to play melody and modal chords easier than in standard,and produced a dulcimer sound ,that i couldnt get easily in dadgad.
the same song works well in standard ,but sounds totally different.
# Posted on April 12th 2008 by Dick Miles
Re: e b f#bf#e guitar tuning
Just curious, what do you mean by "dulcimer sound?"
# Posted on April 12th 2008 by Wyogal
Re: e b f#bf#e guitar tuning
Wyogal, not meaning to speak for Dickens, but a dulcimer sound on the guitar usually means one has a lot of open string drones ringing away while playing the melody or or other line. This creates a sound similar to a dulcimer (which also has a lot open string drones). Most players find it easier to get this sound by strumming with a flat pick, but there are various ways fingerstyle players can do it too.
Dickens, as others have noted, the convention for guitar tunings is to list them low to high. I too was thrown off for a moment. If you're thinking of this tuning as being centered in the key of B, then it might work well for getting modal sounds. It doesn't have a 3rd in it, and you have the 4th on the top and the bottom strings. In ways, very much like DADGAD in creating that unresolved, harmonically undefined modal
sound.
Cool.
I use various tunings, mostly DADGAD. I've always been able to get a respectable dulcimer sound in DADGAD, but a key part of developing a style is doing what works for you.
# Posted on April 12th 2008 by Snakefingers
Re: e b f#bf#e guitar tuning
yes,fingerpicking,your probably more au fait with dadgad,
i often use dadgbd,I just managed to get going,with this song easily in ebf#bf#e,or low to high ef#bf#be.
# Posted on April 12th 2008 by Dick Miles
Re: e b f#bf#e guitar tuning
Hey, dickens, I never came across anybody listing tunings high to low before, are you left-handed or something ?
Anyways, I gave it a go, with the 1st string tuned to D sharp, made a quick and dirty test to hear what it's like
http://www.soundlantern.com:80/UpdatedSoundPage.do?ToId=519&Path=Test.mp3
# Posted on April 12th 2008 by wolfbird
Re: e b f#bf#e guitar tuning
nice Wolfbird.
I found playing, using finger picking on middle four strings,a dominant modal chord,by frettingsecond fret secondand fourth strings,
and a sub dominant ,fitfh fret,third and fourth strings using all other strings open.
and by using top five string,with firststring fretted on third fret,a tonic [modal two note ist and fifth chord].
the tuning I guess is a modal sus4.
anyway your guitar playing sounds much better than mine.
# Posted on April 12th 2008 by Dick Miles
Re: e b f#bf#e guitar tuning
sorry, the tonic is fretted at second fret,top string
# Posted on April 12th 2008 by Dick Miles
Re: e b f#bf#e guitar tuning
my head is gone sorry, third fret.
# Posted on April 12th 2008 by Dick Miles
Re: e b f#bf#e guitar tuning
Thanks for the compliment, dickens, just messing about really to get the feel of the tuning. I tried another, with 6th tuned to low B, it's quite an interesting tuning to play around with.
http://www.soundlantern.com:80/UpdatedSoundPage.do?ToId=532&Path=April noodling.mp3
# Posted on April 12th 2008 by wolfbird
Re: e b f#bf#e guitar tuning
I haverecorded adieu sweet lovely nancy,using e bf#bf#e,unfortunately itson sound lantern as a blank at present. [john cage strikes again ]I will try and upload it again tomorrow.
# Posted on April 12th 2008 by Dick Miles
Re: e b f#bf#e guitar tuning
still experimenting,tried MY DARLING ASLEEP seemed to work quite easily,actually took it off guitar tab in dadgad,notation for top two strings in
dadgad ,worked by taking it down a string.
top two dadgad strings [a d] are same interval as b to f#.
I am wondering whether to risk tuning fourth string b up to e,that would give same relationship,between ,fourth,thirdand second strings,as dadgad,123 strings,
or
to try this, tuned down a tone, low to high dedead,or dadead the last [sounds like one of Carthys tuning].
# Posted on April 13th 2008 by Dick Miles
Re: e b f#bf#e guitar tuning
e f#b f#d# , low to high is good,you have sixth string open for your sub dominant chord,5 string open for your dominant chord,4 string open for your tonic chord,picking alot of the melody on second third and fourth string.
your top three strings are now an open major chord .so you can also half bar for[three chord trick]and use one bass as a drone.
# Posted on April 13th 2008 by Dick Miles
Re: e b f#bf#e guitar tuning
http://www.soundlantern.com/UpdatedSoundPage.do?ToId=563&Path=adieu+sweet+lovely.mp3
you can hear the dulcimer type sound here.
# Posted on April 13th 2008 by Dick Miles
Re: e b f#bf#e guitar tuning
Dickens wrote "I am wondering whether to risk tuning fourth string b up to e,that would give same relationship,between fourth, third and second strings,as dadgad,123 strings, or to try this, tuned down a tone, low to high dedead,or dadead the last [sounds like one of Carthys tuning].
Raising the fourth string up to E will probably be interesting too,
but I suspect having 3 strings tuned to E will shift the tonal center of the tuning. I'm not saying you won't be able to play in B, but it will be a B with 3 strings tuned to the 4th of the key.
I was messing about with it this morning, and really liked it. Started by moving a couple arrangements from DADGAD, and they shifted over fairly well. I don't have any way to post a recording at the moment though. We just moved and most of my gear is still boxed up.
DADEAD is a tuning others use- I've come across it a few times. I even saw a book on arranging Irish tunes for guitar by that used DADEAD for all the arrangements. Don't remember the title or author, but I think it was published by Ossian Press.
# Posted on April 13th 2008 by Snakefingers
Re: e b f#bf#e guitar tuning
I agree,dadgad arrangements in d seem to work fairly easily.
I think I will stick with the tuning as it is.
# Posted on April 14th 2008 by Dick Miles