Chris Whitley's tunings

[scout2112]

Here's a list of all the tunings that he used on his records. He was a bit unconventional to say the least. A complete list of tunings on each song is available here: https://allthingschriswhitley.com/2013/06/30/a-chart-of-chris-whitleys-tunings/:

A D A C# E A
A D A D E A
A E A E A B
A# D# F# A# D#
A# F A# D# F A#
A# F A# D# F A#
A# F A# F A# C
A# F C F A C
B E A D F# B
B E B D# F# B
B E B D# G# B
B E B E F# B
B E B E G# B
B F# B D# E B
B F# B E F# B
B F# B F# B C#
B F# B F# G# B
C F A# F G C
C F C F A C
C F C G A# C
C G A# F G C
C G C E G C
C G C F G C
C G C G C D
C G C G C E
C# F G# C# F G#
C# F# B F# G# C#
C# F# C# F G# C#
C# F# C# F# A# C#
C# F# C# F# G# C#
C# G# C# F F# C#
C# G# C# F# G# C#
C# G# C# G# C# D#
D A D A D E
D A D F# A D
D A D G A D
D A E A C# E
D G C F A D
D G D F A C
D G D F# A D
D G D G A D
D G D G B D
D# A# D# A# D# F
D# A# D# F A# D#
D# A# D# G A# D# (Open D#)
D# G# C# G# C# D#
D# G# D# G# A# D#
D# G# D# G# C D#
E A D G B E
E A E A B E
E A E A C# E
E A E G B
E A E G# B E
E B E G# B E
E G# B E G# B
F A C F A C

 

[Tidepoolbay]

Nice!! Thank You!

 

[Fiesta Red]

He was an amazing performer

 

[Wally]

Now, if one took the time to name each tuning that would be a service. Were these tunings he used for open tunings on steel...lap or resonator...guitars? There are more than a few that have an open chord combined with a power chord from that scale. Some are pure open tuned chords. Others I would have to take more time understanding.
And...LO and behold....there is standard ‘Spanish guitar’ tuning in there as well!!
Interesting....and Inhave to admit to having missed tuning into his music. I’ll give an ear.
He certainly passed at a young age.

 

[Boil]

He was great, got a chance to see him at Barrymores in Ottawa way back when, just him and his boot doing the Dirt Floor stuff, man he was loud.

 

[srvbluezz]

I saw him around 97...he was opening for johnny Lang. His set was full of energy.

 

[scout2112]

Now, if one took the time to name each tuning that would be a service. Were these tunings he used for open tunings on steel...lap or resonator...guitars? There are more than a few that have an open chord combined with a power chord from that scale. Some are pure open tuned chords. Others I would have to take more time understanding.
And...LO and behold....there is standard ‘Spanish guitar’ tuning in there as well!!
Interesting....and Inhave to admit to having missed tuning into his music. I’ll give an ear.
He certainly passed at a young age.

He mostly played on resonators, but I think there's at least one banjo tuning in there. The guy who compiled this list has a youtube channel where he plays mostly Whitley covers. It's worth checking out if your interested in playing any of his works.