Posts tagged “Tuning the guitar”
December 20, 2023
Other tunings
<div id="introduction" style="scroll-margin-top: 1.5rem; scroll-margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"><h2>Introduction</h2><p>Occasionally, composers for the guitar seem to choose odd tunings; one has to trust that it's not to deliberately confuse those around them. Keith Richards mentioned that alternative tunings help him write songs differently. As another example, John Fahey, who experimented like a mad alchemist with all sorts of tunings, even tried matching all 6-strings to the same pitches, or just 5ths. </p><p>Additionally, sometimes songs transcribed here remain as unsolved mysteries, where it seems impossible to physically reach certain notes in Standard, Vestapol, or Spanish tunings.. that's where these custom tunings can work as 'patches', where the string pitches are altered just to accommodate odd sections in songs -- at least until new clues for fingerings help them get re-categorized as more plausible && common tunings.</p><p>Finally (though listed first), for classical arrangements, oftentimes drop tunings are used, such as DADGBD, where it's standard tuning, except the bottom-most E-string is reduced by 1-whole-step, which conveniently then matches the 4th-string. Also, classical arrangements seem to sometimes use DGDGBD tuning; this is almost like a "hybrid" of Spanish-tuning (for the bass strings) and Standard-tuning (for the treble strings). In the Spanish tuning way, the tuning gravitates the tonal center to the "G" tonic/root, on the 5th-string, with the D-strings (on the 6th and 4th string) supportive as intervals of 5ths, relative to the G-note.</p></div><div id="i-dadgbe" style="scroll-margin-top: 1.5rem; scroll-margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"><h2>i) DADGBE</h2><p><em>Note: could take time to load MIDI tablature...</em></p><div class="w-embed w-iframe"><iframe width="100%" height="394" src="https://musescore.com/user/69479854/scores/14411497/embed" id="custom-dadgbe" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; fullscreen"></iframe></div></div><div id="ii-dgdgbe" style="scroll-margin-top: 1.5rem; scroll-margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"><h2>ii) DGDGBE</h2><div class="w-embed w-iframe"><iframe width="100%" height="394" src="https://musescore.com/user/69479854/scores/14411491/embed" id="custom-dadgbe" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; fullscreen"></iframe></div></div><div id="iii-d-f-d-f-bb-d" style="scroll-margin-top: 1.5rem; scroll-margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"><h2>iii) D F D F Bb D</h2><div class="w-embed w-iframe"><iframe width="100%" height="394" src="https://musescore.com/user/69479854/scores/13485052/s/3PZvgT/embed" id="custom-d-f-d-f-bb-d" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; fullscreen"></iframe></div></div><div id="iv-bb-f-bb-f-bb-d" style="scroll-margin-top: 1.5rem; scroll-margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"><h2>iv) Bb F Bb F Bb D</h2><div class="w-embed w-iframe"><iframe width="100%" height="394" src="https://musescore.com/user/69479854/scores/13485055/s/oWeNH4/embed" id="custom-bb-f-bb-f-bb-d" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; fullscreen"></iframe></div></div>
December 20, 2023
Spanish tuning
<div id="introduction" style="scroll-margin-top: 1.5rem; scroll-margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"><h2>Introduction</h2><p>Spanish tuning is simply the bottom 5-strings of Vestapol tuning, plus an extra 5th in the bass. When transcribing songs, common clues that the guitar part is in Spanish tuning include hearing that low-5th interval on the open 6th-string, and bottleneck slides into the 5th-fret of the 1st string with vibrato (being the root note).</p><p>Also similar to Vestapol tuning, Spanish tuning has 'slang' names, being known as Open G & Open A tuning. While these names certainly work, it might be better to refer to them as Spanish tuning in different pitches, since you can technically have Open A and Open G in Vestapol and other tunings. </p></div><div id="i-f-b-f-b-d-f" style="scroll-margin-top: 1.5rem; scroll-margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"><h2>i) F# B F# B D# F#</h2><p><em>Note: could take time to load MIDI tablature...</em></p><div class="w-embed w-iframe"><iframe width="100%" height="394" src="https://musescore.com/user/69479854/scores/13485031/s/tnVXc9/embed" id="spanish-f-b-f-b-d-f" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; fullscreen"></iframe></div></div><div id="ii-eaeace" style="scroll-margin-top: 1.5rem; scroll-margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"><h2>ii) EAEAC#E</h2><div class="w-embed w-iframe"><iframe width="100%" height="394" src="https://musescore.com/user/69479854/scores/13485043/s/JUDDX2/embed" id="spanish-eaeac-e" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; fullscreen"></iframe></div></div><div id="iii-eb-ab-eb-ab-c-eb" style="scroll-margin-top: 1.5rem; scroll-margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"><h2>iii) Eb Ab Eb Ab C Eb</h2><div class="w-embed w-iframe"><iframe width="100%" height="394" src="https://musescore.com/user/69479854/scores/13485034/s/aMGEeQ/embed" id="spanish-eb-ab-eb-ab-c-eb" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; fullscreen"></iframe></div></div><div id="iv-dgdgbd" style="scroll-margin-top: 1.5rem; scroll-margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"><h2>iv) DGDGBD</h2><div class="w-embed w-iframe"><iframe width="100%" height="394" src="https://musescore.com/user/69479854/scores/13485046/s/CCVxEp/embed" id="spanish-dgdgbd" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; fullscreen"></iframe></div></div><div id="v-bebegb" style="scroll-margin-top: 1.5rem; scroll-margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"><h2>v) BEBEG#B</h2><div class="w-embed w-iframe"><iframe width="100%" height="394" src="https://musescore.com/user/69479854/scores/13485049/s/RY2N-P/embed" id="spanish-bebeg-b" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; fullscreen"></iframe></div></div>
December 20, 2023
Standard tuning
<div id="introduction" style="scroll-margin-top: 1.5rem; scroll-margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"><h2>Introduction</h2><p>Among the universe of stringed instruments, Standard tuning, which is the guitar's most popular tuning by far, is actually quite complex. For comparison, violins, mandolins, and cellos are tuned in string intervals of 5ths; string basses are tuned in intervals of 4ths. However, Standard tuning on the guitar is like an odd Frankenstein; in Standard tuning, the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th strings of the guitar are tuned like a string bass (in 4ths that is), but the 2nd string is actually tuned as a 3rd (relative to the 3rd string)! </p><p>These versions of Standard tuning are organized from highest to lowest pitch. By playing-back the Musescore tablature, you can match your guitar's strings to the pitch playback and get into the right tuning.</p></div><div id="i-f-bb-eb-ab-c-f" style="scroll-margin-top: 1.5rem; scroll-margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"><h2>i) F Bb Eb Ab C F</h2><p><em>Note: could take time to load MIDI tablature...</em></p><div class="w-embed w-iframe"><iframe width="100%" height="394" src="https://musescore.com/user/69479854/scores/13484920/s/71CUE1/embed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen allow="autoplay; fullscreen"></iframe></div></div><div id="ii-eadgbe" style="scroll-margin-top: 1.5rem; scroll-margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"><h2>ii) EADGBE</h2><div class="w-embed w-iframe"><iframe width="100%" height="394" src="https://musescore.com/user/69479854/scores/13484926/s/qZ24dE/embed" id="standard-eadgbe" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; fullscreen"></iframe></div></div><div id="iii-eb-ab-db-gb-bb-eb" style="scroll-margin-top: 1.5rem; scroll-margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"><h2>iii) Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb</h2><div class="w-embed w-iframe"><iframe width="100%" height="394" src="https://musescore.com/user/69479854/scores/13484923/s/EgcvAj/embed" id="standard-eb-ab-db-gb-bb-eb" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; fullscreen"></iframe></div></div><div id="iv-dgcfad" style="scroll-margin-top: 1.5rem; scroll-margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"><h2>iv) DGCFAD</h2><div class="w-embed w-iframe"><iframe width="100%" height="394" src="https://musescore.com/user/69479854/scores/13484932/s/0Uzmuo/embed" id="standard-dgcfad" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; fullscreen"></iframe></div></div><div id="v-db-gb-b-e-ab-db" style="scroll-margin-top: 1.5rem; scroll-margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"><h2>v) Db Gb B E Ab Db</h2><div class="w-embed w-iframe"><iframe width="100%" height="394" src="https://musescore.com/user/69479854/scores/13485019/s/NiKgHK/embed" id="standard-db-gb-b-e-ab-db" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; fullscreen"></iframe></div></div><div id="vi-c-f-bb-eb-g-c" style="scroll-margin-top: 1.5rem; scroll-margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"><h2>vi) C F Bb Eb G C</h2><div class="w-embed w-iframe"><iframe width="100%" height="394" src="https://musescore.com/user/69479854/scores/13485025/s/Lh6xQa/embed" id="standard-c-f-bb-eb-g-c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; fullscreen"></iframe></div></div><div id="viii-beadfb" style="scroll-margin-top: 1.5rem; scroll-margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"><h2>viii) BEADF#B</h2><div class="w-embed w-iframe"><iframe width="100%" height="394" src="https://musescore.com/user/69479854/scores/13485028/s/XG3sCJ/embed" id="standard-beadf-b" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; fullscreen"></iframe></div></div>
December 15, 2023
Crossnote tuning
<div id="introduction" style="scroll-margin-top: 1.5rem; scroll-margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"><h2>Introduction</h2><p>Crossnote tuning is commonly associated with Bentonia blues musicians such as Henry Stuckey and Skip James. While it might seem like an intimidating & unfamiliar tuning, it's essentially just a minor barre chord, in Standard tuning, played off of the 6th-string.</p><p>So far, all Crossnote tuning songs on this site (such as <a href="/songs/impressions-of-susan">Impressions of Susan</a>) only use Crossnote tuning with the DADFAD pitches, however Crossnote tuning can be used with any absolute string pitches just like the other tunings.</p></div><div id="i-dadfad" style="scroll-margin-top: 1.5rem; scroll-margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"><h2>i) DADFAD</h2><p><em>Note: could take time to load MIDI tablature...</em></p><div class="w-embed w-iframe"><iframe width="100%" height="394" src="https://musescore.com/user/69479854/scores/13485061/s/RoYMXs/embed" id="crossnote-dadfad" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; fullscreen"></iframe></div></div>
December 14, 2023
Vestapol tuning
<div id="introduction" style="scroll-margin-top: 1.5rem; scroll-margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"> <h2>Introduction</h2> <p> Boiled down to the basics, Vestapol tuning is simply a major barre-chord in Standard tuning, played off of the 6th string. Because of that, the string tension of Vestapol is higher than Standard tuning, if the low 6th-string is an E-note. It's often healthier therefore for the guitar's neck if lower-pitched versions of Vestapol (DADF#AD & below) are chosen for lengths of time longer than a day or two on the guitar. </p> <p> In a conversational way, Vestapol tuning is also commonly known as Open D & Open E tuning (à la <a href="/threads/blind-willie-johnson">Blind Willie Johnson</a> or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Trucks" target="_blank">Derek Trucks</a>). However, there can also be Open F, Open G, Open A, Open B, etc tunings which are still Vestapol since the relative string intervals are what matter. </p> </div> <div id="i-fcfacf" style="scroll-margin-top: 1.5rem; scroll-margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"> <h2>i) FCFACF</h2> <p><em>Note: could take time to load MIDI tablature...</em></p> <div class="w-embed w-iframe"> <iframe width="100%" height="394" src="https://musescore.com/user/69479854/scores/13484905/s/NCTqLa/embed" id="vestapol-fcfacf" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; fullscreen"></iframe> </div> </div> <div id="ii-ebegbe" style="scroll-margin-top: 1.5rem; scroll-margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"> <h2>ii) EBEG#BE</h2> <div class="w-embed w-iframe"> <iframe width="100%" height="394" src="https://musescore.com/user/69479854/scores/13484908/s/kwsFFB/embed" id="vestapol-ebeg-be" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; fullscreen"></iframe> </div> </div> <div id="iii-dadfad" style="scroll-margin-top: 1.5rem; scroll-margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"> <h2>iii) DADF#AD</h2> <div class="w-embed w-iframe"> <iframe width="100%" height="394" src="https://musescore.com/user/69479854/scores/13484911/s/X1hVuk/embed" id="vestapol-dadf-ad" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; fullscreen"></iframe> </div> </div> <div id="iv-db-ab-db-f-ab-db" style="scroll-margin-top: 1.5rem; scroll-margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"> <h2>iv) Db Ab Db F Ab Db</h2> <div class="w-embed w-iframe"> <iframe width="100%" height="394" src="https://musescore.com/user/69479854/scores/13732603/s/Oq3hhw/embed" id="vestapol-dbabdbfabdb" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; fullscreen"></iframe> </div> </div> <div id="v-cfcegc" style="scroll-margin-top: 1.5rem; scroll-margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"> <h2>v) CFCEGC</h2> <div class="w-embed w-iframe"> <iframe width="100%" height="394" src="https://musescore.com/user/69479854/scores/13484917/s/4OR9QL/embed" id="vestapol-cfcegc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; fullscreen"></iframe> </div> </div> <div id="vi-eb-bb-eb-g-bb-eb" style="scroll-margin-top: 1.5rem; scroll-margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"> <h2>vi) Eb Bb Eb G Bb Eb</h2> <div class="w-embed w-iframe"> <iframe width="100%" height="394" src="https://musescore.com/user/69479854/scores/33680954/s/-_csz9/embed" id="vestapol-ebbbebgbbeb" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; fullscreen"> </iframe> </div> </div>
January 1, 2020
Tuning the guitar
Reference MIDI-tablature, for tuning to different pitches of: (a) Standard, (b) Vestapol, (c) Spanish, or (d) 'Custom/Other' tunings on the guitar
