Open tuning

msteurbaut · September 12th, 2008, 04:24 PM

What's the best open tuning for slide playing?
I'm tring to figure it out but I need some help.

BB · September 12th, 2008, 05:01 PM

There really is no 'best' Marc........each has their own favorites, but I feel it's best to explore them all and see what works for you. Some I like are open G, open D, open E and open A. Also, try slide in standard tuning. Best of luck to you!

Mojohand40 · September 12th, 2008, 05:35 PM

Yep..no real "best".
..but...
a good simple tuning for bottleneck slide is open D : low to high D-A-D-F#-A-D.

To get there from standard tuning you will tune low E, sixth string down to D...
fifth string and fourth string...leave alone (A and D)...
Third string: tune down..(from G TO F#)
Second string: tune down (from B TO A)
First string Tune Down...(from E to D)..

One of the good things about this tuning is it's a safe bet it won't put any stress on your neck, even if you go to heavy strings (like 12s), which you might want to.

To understand this tuning quickly, imagine tuning your guitar DOWN 2 frets, (E string becomes D string..etc.) now imagine fingering an open E chord shape...tah- dah! That's THIS open tuning, a big 'old open D-chord.
Now use the slide to slide up to, say, the fifth fret...tah-da..a big 'ol G chord
..seventh fret?..a big 'ol A chord...
There! Three chords, (I-IV and V)...now play some blues..

..now fool around in open D...there is a whole world of stuff in that ONE tuning. (then try some others

).

getbent · September 12th, 2008, 05:38 PM

e will blow your mind.

charlie chitlin · September 12th, 2008, 10:30 PM

D and E are the same tuning, but the higher tension of E makes it extra cool.
Either one and a couple Elmore James records will provide months of fun.

stevieboy · September 12th, 2008, 10:51 PM

A lot of Muddy Waters is in open G. Low to high D G D G B D Note the root is on the fifth string not the bottom. This is also Keith Richards' famous tele tuning except he just took off the bottom string. Not to be confused with G that dobro players often use,which is G B D G B D and is a lot of tension for a regular neck guitar.

Slide player Roy Rogers has an instructional video out that goes over some different tunings and might be a good place to sample some choices.

Charlie Bernstein · September 17th, 2008, 05:39 PM

Open G is my favorite, with the slide on my pinky so I can do more chording.

Charlie Bernstein · September 17th, 2008, 05:41 PM

PS -

I used to like D best, but open G lets you come up to the the bass root note - you don't always have to go down to it, as you do in open D (or E). I like that.

BB · September 17th, 2008, 07:55 PM

Open A is interesting too. Johnny Winter uses ( or used to at least ) open A quite a bit as well as Bonnie Raitt.

Leroy Parnell is another fav of mine. If ya haven't yet, check him out. I love his approcah to slide. He has some real unique ideas that are great to steal!

gtech · September 17th, 2008, 08:30 PM

I like open D/E the best. I don't really like having the root on the 5th string (like in open G/A) because of the Elmore James style I have when I play slide. But the best is to try both and see what fits you.

for example

morroben · September 17th, 2008, 08:35 PM

I like open D.

Tele-writer · September 18th, 2008, 06:21 AM

Man, I like 'em all! Just can't get enough of those good ol' altered tunings

weelie · September 18th, 2008, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie Bernstein

PS -

I used to like D best, but open G lets you come up to the the bass root note - you don't always have to go down to it, as you do in open D (or E). I like that.

Good point!

I think G is the most common tuning out side of standard (blues, steel, ...) . But me and maybe others too started with the open D, it's sort of simpler (bass note on 6. and forth strings, etc). Open A and E are just those up two frets.

http://eceserv0.ece.wisc.edu/~sethar...alltunings.pdf

msteurbaut · September 20th, 2008, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevieboy

A lot of Muddy Waters is in open G. Low to high D G D G B D Note the root is on the fifth string not the bottom. This is also Keith Richards' famous tele tuning except he just took off the bottom string. Not to be confused with G that dobro players often use,which is G B D G B D and is a lot of tension for a regular neck guitar.

Slide player Roy Rogers has an instructional video out that goes over some different tunings and might be a good place to sample some choices.

I didn't know Roy Rogers, what a player!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rZVz...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZIfM...eature=related

msteurbaut · September 20th, 2008, 10:30 AM

I tried them all out, and my tricone sounds best in open E.
On the electric they all sound good.

September 12th, 2008, 04:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
msteurbaut Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Belgium Posts: 608	Open tuning What's the best open tuning for slide playing? I'm tring to figure it out but I need some help. __________________ Marc

September 12th, 2008, 05:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mojohand40 Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 557	Yep..no real "best". ..but... a good simple tuning for bottleneck slide is open D : low to high D-A-D-F#-A-D. To get there from standard tuning you will tune low E, sixth string down to D... fifth string and fourth string...leave alone (A and D)... Third string: tune down..(from G TO F#) Second string: tune down (from B TO A) First string Tune Down...(from E to D).. One of the good things about this tuning is it's a safe bet it won't put any stress on your neck, even if you go to heavy strings (like 12s), which you might want to. To understand this tuning quickly, imagine tuning your guitar DOWN 2 frets, (E string becomes D string..etc.) now imagine fingering an open E chord shape...tah- dah! That's THIS open tuning, a big 'old open D-chord. Now use the slide to slide up to, say, the fifth fret...tah-da..a big 'ol G chord ..seventh fret?..a big 'ol A chord... There! Three chords, (I-IV and V)...now play some blues.. ..now fool around in open D...there is a whole world of stuff in that ONE tuning. (then try some others).

September 12th, 2008, 05:38 PM	#4 (permalink)
getbent Moderator Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Benito County, California Posts: 10,231 37 Photos	e will blow your mind. __________________ 'never pet a burning dog'

September 12th, 2008, 10:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
charlie chitlin Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bucktown, Pa Age: 47 Posts: 2,359	D and E are the same tuning, but the higher tension of E makes it extra cool. Either one and a couple Elmore James records will provide months of fun. __________________ Nil illigitimi carborundum http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...6-bf3537901a07

September 12th, 2008, 10:51 PM	#6 (permalink)
stevieboy Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: the valley Age: 57 Posts: 2,414 6 Photos	A lot of Muddy Waters is in open G. Low to high D G D G B D Note the root is on the fifth string not the bottom. This is also Keith Richards' famous tele tuning except he just took off the bottom string. Not to be confused with G that dobro players often use,which is G B D G B D and is a lot of tension for a regular neck guitar. Slide player Roy Rogers has an instructional video out that goes over some different tunings and might be a good place to sample some choices. __________________ "One of the best bands ever. These guys were such perfectionist"--Youtube user comment

September 12th, 2008, 05:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
BB Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2003 Location: Pacific NW Age: 53 Posts: 3,145	There really is no 'best' Marc........each has their own favorites, but I feel it's best to explore them all and see what works for you. Some I like are open G, open D, open E and open A. Also, try slide in standard tuning. Best of luck to you!

September 17th, 2008, 05:39 PM	#7 (permalink)
Charlie Bernstein Friend of Leo's Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Augusta, Maine Posts: 2,527	Open G is my favorite, with the slide on my pinky so I can do more chording.

September 17th, 2008, 05:41 PM	#8 (permalink)
Charlie Bernstein Friend of Leo's Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Augusta, Maine Posts: 2,527	PS - I used to like D best, but open G lets you come up to the the bass root note - you don't always have to go down to it, as you do in open D (or E). I like that.

September 17th, 2008, 07:55 PM	#9 (permalink)
BB Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2003 Location: Pacific NW Age: 53 Posts: 3,145	Open A is interesting too. Johnny Winter uses ( or used to at least ) open A quite a bit as well as Bonnie Raitt. Leroy Parnell is another fav of mine. If ya haven't yet, check him out. I love his approcah to slide. He has some real unique ideas that are great to steal!

September 17th, 2008, 08:30 PM	#10 (permalink)
gtech Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Quebec, Canada Age: 59 Posts: 1,999 173 Photos	I like open D/E the best. I don't really like having the root on the 5th string (like in open G/A) because of the Elmore James style I have when I play slide. But the best is to try both and see what fits you. for example __________________ Back to practice now...to make my Teles sound good.

September 17th, 2008, 08:35 PM	#11 (permalink)
morroben Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: california Age: 32 Posts: 1,874 18 Photos	I like open D.

September 18th, 2008, 06:21 AM	#12 (permalink)
Tele-writer Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: just below macongausaterra Posts: 130	Man, I like 'em all! Just can't get enough of those good ol' altered tunings

September 20th, 2008, 10:30 AM	#15 (permalink)
msteurbaut Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Belgium Posts: 608	I tried them all out, and my tricone sounds best in open E. On the electric they all sound good. __________________ Marc