Guitarists, I need your help.

[Bertha Venation]

Although I've played for more than thirty years, I possess only mediocre talent. I play for myself only (although I used to perform, back when I was really good. I'm rusty).

I've never stepped outside the usual E-A-D-G-B-E tuning. In fact, until a few years ago, I never knew there were alternate tunings, and I felt like an idiot upon learning this, because of course you can do way more with a guitar than just the usual. (I coulda had a V-8!)

Anyway, there's a song I want to learn. It has this alternate tuning, and I don't understand the chords. Can someone explain it to me, please?

Tune the treble E string down until it sounds like the open D string; do the same for the bass E string. Then tune the B string down until it sounds like the open A string. This tuning was, I believe, "discovered" by Davy Graham

Chords:

X: (5x5000); Y: (9x9000); Z: (10,x,10,000); W: (000000); R: (030034); S: (020020)

Thank you from a semi-:dunce:

(cross-posted from the Lounge)

[trusty elf]

1. I can offer you a little harmonic analysis,

if that's what you need.

The one constant in this progression is the open third string "G', so I'm going to assume that it is tonally centered in the "key" of G.

X: a G (major) chord without the third of the triad, but with an added 9th, that is, the open second string, which is tuned to "a" .

Y: again, a G major chord, but with the third as the lowest note.(this is called a first inversion chord) The open second string "a" is a non-essential note (an added 9th)

Z: can be interpreted in different ways, but let's assume that the lowest note "c" is the root of the chord. That makes this a sub dominant chord (C major) with a couple of added notes, namely the first and second open strings ("a" and "d" ,which form respectively a 13th and a 9th)

W: is all "D"s and "A"s, so it is clearly a "dominant" chord in the key of G. However, it has no third (F#), but rather a "sus 4", that is to say the open third string, or "G"

R: is also a "dominant" chord. It is a D7 chord with the "7th" doubled (it has two "C"s in it). It also has the open third string (G) in it, but this is a non essential "color" note.

S: is clearly a G major chord with a low D as the bass note.

If you were to map out this progression, it would simply be expressed thus: I-I-IV-V-V-I,

or tonic, tonic, sub-dominant, dominant, dominant 7, tonic.

I hope this was helpful!

:hi:

[DrDan]

2. DADGAD tuning

there is quite a bit on YOUTUBE in that tuning - I will see if I can find some and share with you

[DrDan]

3. here is a DADGAD set by Tony McManus

one of my favorite guitarists. I have been to several of his workshops - a great wit, a great musical talent - extremely bright. Was on his way to completion of a Ph.D. in Mathematics but took a music road instead.


oops - Tony is playing backup.

[DrDan]

4. Tony McManus does a lot in various tunings

here is one in DAAEAE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI7zSSRTw0c