Page 28 - July 2021

3AlternateTuningsEvery GuitaristShouldTry
By James Walsh
“A dream you dream alone is only a dream, but a
dream you dream together is reality.” ~ John Lennon, Musician.
Welcome to the Secret Garden of Open Tunings
It is estimated that singer Songwriter Joni Mitchell created over 58 open tunings for guitar in her quest to create new songs that span her 50 year career in popular song. This is a remarkable feature of invention both for its simplicity and her determination to create something that is lasting and truly attainable through experimenting with the guitar’s tuning. The guitar is unlike any other instrument on the earth. It actually improves with age. Styles that use Open Tunings or alternate tunings include Folk, Blues, Pop, Rock, Agro Folk, and even Djent styles of music. Here are some basics
1. You tune to a chord and that chord is the key you play in and it is fully useable for your new song idea.
2. That Open Tuning means you will discover or find
new shapes or fingerings for chords to play.
3. You will continue to exploit the harmonics and open
strings to good efx for the benefit of the song.
4. To try something new you have to leave the comfort zone of standard tuning, (A-440) expanding into new areas and making your comfort zone bigger and
better.
How to Tune the Guitar to Open Tunings
We are going to deal only with Three Standard Keys used for open tuning for now. Each tuning below is low to high on the strings. Use your electronic tuner and tune down to the chord for the key you want to play in today. The advantage of knowing these tunings is it actually opens the door to more ideas, more fun, and more songs to play either with your fingers exploring new fingerings
during the song. If playing lead guitar has been difficult for you up until now then cheer up because Open E, Open D, or Open G may be your passport to freedom. Give it a go. Use your palm of your hands to mute strings where you feel it is a good idea. Open tunings create a full sound that is both pleasing to the ears when strummed on guitar, or when playing melodies with one or two fingers, and of course when jamming with other guitar players.
and/or using a slide to play slide guitar and taking a solo 28
Open E: Open D: Open G:
E B E G# B E D D F # A D D G D G B D
(tune down low to high) (tune down low to high)
(tune down low to high)
Open E Secrets: Open E is one of the most popular tunings in American music. Did you know that some of your most favorite songs on the Radio and iTunes are in open tunings? For instance, Derek Trucks of the Allman Brothers and Derek Trucks bands tunes to Open E. He absolutely flies along at a nice tempo creating beautiful sounds for his audience. He has played with bands live all over the world. This includes legendary musicians like Doyle Bramhall and Eric Clapton and his spouse Susan Tedeschi in the Tedeschi Trucks Band. His influences came from Duane Allman and countless others like blues music legends Robert Johnson and Mike Bloomfield. Today this is carried on by Derek, and John Mayer and Joe Bonamassa, and Sheryl Crowe. In addition today’s world is filled with great Hit Songs by bands like Train and Goo Goo Dolls using open tunings on acoustic guitar and electric guitar to make the melody and vocal “ really dance.“ It is definitely worth exploring. Open D Secrets: This is one of the most satisfying keys to play in, write a song in and sing along with creating a pleasing harmony. Classics like “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” by Crosby Stills Nash and Young make this Hit Song what it is.