alternate tuning

[tanless1]

Caller on o/a today stated that the rain song was easy to play as it was an aternate tuning. To sthis I say he is a lazy bastard.
All be it that this maybe a moderatly difficult song to play, to not play in a standard tuning would deprive it of some nuance, I had much more difficulty w/ steve vais damn good . Try arching your fingers you nut.
I'm all for alternate tunings when a unique voice is saught.... but not for lazy sake, besides, I'm guessn it would not be the last song in the set.
Granted. I haven't played in 15 years. But that was one of my standards.

[topless_mike]

what is the "rain song" ?

also, alternate tunings can offer you more possibilities due to hand limitations.
hell, keith richards uses an open G tuning often. is he lazy?

[JerseyRich]

what is the "rain song" ?

also, alternate tunings can offer you more possibilities due to hand limitations.
hell, keith richards uses an open G tuning often. is he lazy?

The Rain Song is a Zeppelin tune.

[underdog]

hell, keith richards uses an open G tuning often. is he lazy?

Yes.

[JerseyRich]

And why is making something easier considered lazy?

If you have a better and easier way of doing something, don't you chose that way always over the more difficult way?

Just makes sense to me.

[tanless1]

Open G is standard slide / dobro tuning.
And I have not discounted alternate tunings,,,, I am in fact a fan. E's and B's is one I would tinker w/ often.
Jimmy page was a very lazy guitarist as well... but capable. And I do mean very capable !!!

[DarkHippie]

And why is making something easier considered lazy?

If you have a better and easier way of doing something, don't you chose that way always over the more difficult way?

Just makes sense to me.

Bonnie Raitt and Sonny Landreth both play in Open A. Fuckin amatuers. And Jimmy page plays alot of songs in G modal. He must suck.

[JerseyRich]

Open G is standard slide / dobro tuning.
And I have not discounted alternate tunings,,,, I am in fact a fan. E's and B's is one I would tinker w/ often.
Jimmy page was a very lazy guitarist as well... but capable. And I do mean very capable !!!

Do not think lazy means what you think it means.

Sloppy, yes. Lazy...They used to play 3-4 hour shows in the 70's.

[GregoryJoseph]

Open tunings allow a lot of possibilities that standard tuning does not.

When fingerpicking, for example, chord voicings and alternating bass notes can be used which would be impossible in standard.

You literally have to relearn the fretboard when you play in alternate tunings because the notes are in different places.

It's anything but lazy; it's just adding to your musical vocabulary.

[topless_mike]

Open tunings allow a lot of possibilities that standard tuning does not.

When fingerpicking, for example, chord voicings and alternating bass notes can be used which would be impossible in standard.

You literally have to relearn the fretboard when you play in alternate tunings because the notes are in different places.

It's anything but lazy; it's just adding to your musical vocabulary.

i was hoping you'd see this.

[GregoryJoseph]

i was hoping you'd see this.

Ha! I'm glad I did.

It's literally like learning a different language. I don't know how anyone can say that's "lazy."

[SatCam]

it seems lazy if you dont feel like changing your strings tuning

[Aggie]

All be it

**Grammar Nazi Alert - I couldn't help myself!**

Albeit

Carry on your musical conversation which I don't understand.

[topless_mike]

same goes with bass.
some cats go with a drop d. fieldy rocks a L2H A-D-G-C-F
i've messed around with my 12 string, tuning the octave strings to fifth's of the root bass note, with some impressive results.

[KC2OSO]

Ha! I'm glad I did.

It's literally like learning a different language. I don't know how anyone can say that's "lazy."
I had someone tell me once using a capo was lazy too. Wha!?!? :huh: Love the open G. Bron Yr Aur is in an open G i think. I think Jorma Kaukonen used some open tunings from time to time. Lots of folks use them.

[GregoryJoseph]

**Grammar Nazi Alert - I couldn't help myself!**

Albeit

Carry on your musical conversation which I don't understand.

It's really quite simple, Aggie.

While a piano remains constant in its tuning, you can pretty much tune a guitar any way you want.

Standard tuning has the strings tuned to the following notes, going from the thickest string to the thinnest -

E

A

D

G

B

E


If you play in "open D" though, you tune the guitar to a D chord, thus making the tuning

D

A

D

F#

A

D


It allows for some interesting chordal possibilities, and the fact that you've lowered your bass note from an E to a D lets you play things you otherwise couldn't.

[Aggie]

It's really quite simple, Aggie.

While a piano remains constant in its tuning, you can pretty much tune a guitar any way you want.

Standard tuning has the strings tuned to the following notes, going from the thickest string to the thinnest -

E

A

D

G

B

E


If you play in "open D" though, you tune the guitar to a D chord, thus making the tuning

D

A

D

F#

A

D


It allows for some interesting chordal possibilities, and the fact that you've lowered your bass note from an E to a D lets you play things you otherwise couldn't.

I like learning new things. Thanks GJ!

[tanless1]

Allright. I feel I am taking a beating for being anti alternate tuning,,,nothing could be further from the truth, huge fan/ huge advocate,
However. For that song specificaly. An alternate tuning is not nesecary,,,, all the fingerings are centeraly located in standard tuning,,,,,again I love allternate tunins,,,,knuckle heads

[tanless1]

Would like to line you all up and give you the 3 stooge slap,

As for capo. Makes the rides awful sweet and fluid, and certainly has its place,

Who's the first person who only read half of the initial post ?

[hanso]

My dog eats bones all day. That's all I know about tuning a gutair (6th grade music class).

[west milly Tom]

Ha, does drop d count? The only open tuning I ever messed with was E. "She Talks To Angels" is in open E. Norweigen Wood is another that comes to mind.

[yojimbo7248]

Isn't most of Blood on the Tracks in open E?

[TheGameHHH]

And why is making something easier considered lazy?

If you have a better and easier way of doing something, don't you chose that way always over the more difficult way?

Just makes sense to me.

not always, i can think of several examples where thats not true. a calculator is a better and easier way of doing math but if you use it all the time and don't actually know how to add, subtract, multiply or divide id consider you a lazy dumbass.

[west milly Tom]

not always, i can think of several examples where thats not true. a calculator is a better and easier way of doing math but if you use it all the time and don't actually know how to add, subtract, multiply or divide id consider you a lazy dumbass.


Also even though its technically the same the sound in reference to the texture can be greatly different.

[DarkHippie]

Allright. I feel I am taking a beating for being anti alternate tuning,,,nothing could be further from the truth, huge fan/ huge advocate,
However. For that song specificaly. An alternate tuning is not nesecary,,,, all the fingerings are centeraly located in standard tuning,,,,,again I love allternate tunins,,,,knuckle heads

You are right though, 'the rain song' is in standard tuning

Other than for playing slide or 12 string, i dont use alternate tunings. For slide I go down to Open D.

For 12 string, since there is so much tension on the strings already, i tune down a whole step to help preserve my guitar. Lead Belly actually used to tune down to C#

[GregoryJoseph]

You are right though, 'the rain song' is in standard tuning


I am fairly certain "The Rain Song" was played in Page's "DADGAD" tuning, which he favored for quite a bit of his acoustic work.

[west milly Tom]

I am fairly certain "The Rain Song" was played in Page's "DADGAD" tuning, which he favored for quite a bit of his acoustic work.


Did not know this.

[tanless1]

.

[tanless1]

Who doesn't aprieciate a dropd D ? Bwam bwam , let's take it to the swamps !
,,, I nevr played it like that,,,, maybe I'm a moronic overachievr,

[tanless1]

,,, new texting device. My phone droped and walked in dallas.

[DarkHippie]

I am fairly certain "The Rain Song" was played in Page's "DADGAD" tuning, which he favored for quite a bit of his acoustic work.

I thought so too at first, since Bron Y Ar and a bunch of others are (D Modal), but it is actually in standard.

[Dougie Brootal]

Lead Belly actually used to tune down to C#

so did dimebag.

[blancostupido]

Never knew this....from "Houses of the Holy" I always learned & played it in standard tuning in G (by ear), then on "Song Remains the Same" soundtrack learned it in A, which is better for the droning A string....will try it in "DADGAD" next time

Open/non-standard tunings have always fascinated me, not just the blues/slide stuff but Michael Hedges, etc. and people who can play multiple tunings including "standard"...it's like a whole different mindset.

[A.J.]

I am fairly certain "The Rain Song" was played in Page's "DADGAD" tuning, which he favored for quite a bit of his acoustic work.

DADGAD is the tuning for "Black Mountain Side" and "White Summer".

The studio version from of "The Rain Song" on Houses of the Holy is in D-G-C-G-C-D tuning. The live version from The Song Remains The Same is in E-A-D-A-D-E tuning.

I love playing around with alternative tunings. Any guitarist worth a damn uses them.

[A.J.]

I thought so too at first, since Bron Y Ar and a bunch of others are (D Modal), but it is actually in standard.

It's in a C modal tuning: C-A-C-G-C-E.

[DarkHippie]

so did dimebag.

But he did not play a 12 string guitar. Lots of guitarists in metal tune down to C# because Tony Iommi tuned down (easier on his damaged hand, I guess).

[tanless1]

,,,and easier for the singer too.

[topless_mike]

,,,and easier for the singer too.

debatable.
the only "alt tuning" i can think of that helps a singer is Eb, standard tuning down a half step.

higher pitched guys usually use this.

[tanless1]

Was refering to tuning down in general, brother,,,,,,maybe I'm just reading you wrong, didn't realize the need to be so specific at each turn in a conversational thread that the fate of all reality rests upon.

[DarkHippie]

debatable.
the only "alt tuning" i can think of that helps a singer is Eb, standard tuning down a half step.

higher pitched guys usually use this.

this is true. also, a lot of guys will tune down, then capo up to get a brighter sound. Leo Kotke does this sometimes. So does Kaki King, it goes really well with her percussive style.

[Dougie Brootal]

But he did not play a 12 string guitar. Lots of guitarists in metal tune down to C# because Tony Iommi tuned down (easier on his damaged hand, I guess).

SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:furious:

[hanso]

What about The Zephyr Song?