Tunings & shapes

[lorez]

I'm interested to hear what Tunings you are all using frequently and what shapes you are using with them? I want to have a mess about with something so inspire me beyond standard and drop d

[George]

Go open G like Keef but keep the bottom E the same. Muck about with the G or D major scale and it's great. From another thread I posted in (I think I'm wrong with the add9 chords as they're something else):

If you haven't already twigged it yet here are the corresponding chord shapes that works in the G major scale:

Majors barred

Code: Select all

  Gmaj Cmaj Dmaj
D---0---5---7
B---0---5---7
G---0---5---7
D---0---5---7
G---0---5---7
E---x---x---x

D major open
D---4
B---3
G---2
D---0
G---x
E---x

Add9 chords you can do easily by hammering on the above shapes with your index and text finger

Code: Select all

 Cadd9 Dadd9 Gadd9
D---0----2----7
B---1----3----8
G---0----2----7
D---2----4----9
G---0----2----7
E---x----x----x

Minors

Code: Select all

  Emin Amin Bmin
D---2----7----9
B---0----5----7
G---0----5----7
D---2----7----9
G---0----5----7
E---0----5----7

You can also look at this tuning from the point of D major by scrapping the Cmajor chord and replacing it with Amajor and swapping Aminor for F#minor:

Code: Select all

  Amaj F#min
D---2---4
B---2---2
G---2---2
D---2---4
G---2---2
E---x---2

The best thing about all these chords is you can let any amount of notes ring openly and it will still be in key and give you lots of options to experiment and go nuts – as a general rule don’t stick the open bottom E in too often with major chords and you’ll fine. It’s really good fun, I think dream pop describes it well.

[lorez]

Cheers George, I'll have a play around with this looks like fun

[wwrrss]

Guitars:

Westone: CC G#G#
Aria Pro II: DDDDDD

Basses:

Westone: EADG
Encore : CEAD

[gaybear]

Aria Pro II: DDDDDD

i'm admitedly not too knowledgeable about alternate tunings, but how do you do that? what string gauges are you using?

[wwrrss]

6 x 44s.

[lorez]

But Sean what shapes do you use on those tunings or are you just playing lots of single note appeggios?

[wwrrss]

I just grab big hands full of strings and put loads of dirt on. I'm no good at songs.

[lorez]

I just grab big hands full of strings and put loads of dirt on. I'm no good at songs.

Smells like Jazz to me

[Ainm]

I quite like double drop D, DADGAD and EADGBB. I've been meaning to try out some of the tunings Ricky Wilson used on the first two B-52s albums for ages now, too.