Mad Stratter

Most of us learn guitar along a narrow channel, as a 6-string instrument in standard tuning, for most of our lives. We learn scales, chord shapes, arpeggios, licks, riffs, and whatnot, all within the confines of those 6 “standard” tuned strings: E-A-D-G-B-e. And even with only slight variations practiced within those 6 strings, that handful of chord shapes and scales, we create a universe of diverse, beautiful and exciting (& sometimes sloppy, boring and/or ugly) soundscapes.

Sure, some of us tune down a half-step to play along with Stevie Ray Vaughan, or Jimi Hendrix, or Buddy Guy, or just to match a particular individual’s vocal range better. Some of us tune our low E string down a full step to D for a heavier sound, or tune our high E string down to D to experiment with bottleneck (slide) guitar.

But how many of us have really experimented with the guitar? I mean, really experimented? Everyone of us fiddles around and experiments constantly with the standard layout of the guitar… but how many of us have taken a plunge off the deep end of familiarity and comfort, into a strange and alien universe of an alternate tuning?

It can be a daunting task; it seems at times like you’re learning the guitar from scratch, trying to figure out things like chords and simple scales all over again from the ground up. And in a way, you are… and that’s what makes it so exciting!

Experimenting with alternate tunings gives you a chance to tear down the habits and customs that might be holding your creativity back. So get out the tuner, twist some pegs, dive off the deep end, and teach yourself to swim in the funky waves of the unknown:

NOTE: Before trying these tunings, keep in mind a few factors: when tuning down, you will need heavier strings in order to maintain playable tension. When tuning up, you need to use lighter strings to avoid putting too much tension on your instrument or breaking lots (LOTS!) of strings. And of course, you guitar could always use a set-up when switching to a new tuning.

For now I’ll just cover generic “alternate tunings”, but for the next two weeks I’ll be posting even more tunings for you to explore: Open Tunings, Crossnote Tunings, Modal Tunings, Extended Chord Tunings, and more. Now on to the alternate tunings themselves:

Alternate Tunings

Standard Tuning: E-A-D-g-b-e

In standard tuning, the interval between all of the strings is a perfect fourth (five half-steps or semitones), except for interval between the third string (G) and the second string (B), which is a major third (four semitones).

1/2-Step Down: E♭-A♭-D♭-g♭-b♭-e♭

1/2 Step Down tuning, also known as E♭ Tuning, is very similar to Standard Tuning. In fact, it is nearly identical except that each string is lower one half-step (one semitone) from Standard Tuning. E♭ Tuning can be used for a variety of reasons, including the fact the the extra slack in the strings make bends  easier or to better suit the singer’s vocal range. Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Weezer all use(d) this tuning frequently.

1-Whole Step Down: D-G-C-f-a-d

Also known as “D Tuning,” this is essentially taking 1/2-Step Down Tuning twice as far. Simply lower each string one-whole step (two semitones) from Standard Tuning for Whole Step Lower tuning. This tuning can be used for the same reasons as 1/2-Step Down tuning, except taken even further - twice as chunky chunkies, twice as slinky bendies, and twice as suitable… er… suitableness. If that’s not low enough for you, you can keep dropping all 6 strings an equal amount until you’re at, say, 2-step down tuning, or 3 1/2-step down tuning, or 6-step down tuning… the only limit is the strength and gauge of your strings, and the strength of your bowels.

Drop-D: D-A-d-g-b-e’

Drop-D Tuning, used extensively by hard rock, heavy metal and folk guitarists, is likely the most common alternate tuning in recent history. By lowering the low E string one full-step, to D, it becomes possible to play power chords with one finger, by barring one fret on the 4th, 5th and 6th strings. Drop-D Tuning gives a ‘darker’ sound, and, of course, allows for a lower overall range than Standard Tuning.

Double Drop-D: D-A-d-g-b-d’

Double Drop-D, a favorite of Neil Young, is identical to regular Drop-D except that the high e string is also lowered a full-step to d. Because the highest four strings are tuned to a G major chord, this tuning can come in handy for playing bottleneck guitar, because you can quickly reach this tuning from standard.

1-Whole Step Down Drop-C: C-G-c-f-a-d’

If it’s possible to hit the brown note on a guitar, I imagine you’d use Drop-C to do it. Drop C Tuning is a combination of Whole Step Down and Drop D: first, tune all strings down one full-step (two semitones) from Standard Tuning, then tune the 6th string down an additional full-step to C.  This is about as low as you can possibly tune a standard guitar, and even for Drop-C, you’ll likely need some pretty heavy strings in order to maintain tension and keep your notes from sounding like a wet fart. As with lowering standard tuning, you can lower this tuning as far as you’d like, or as far as your guitar strings and intestines can tolerate.

D5 Tuning - D-A-d-d-d’-d’

D5 tuning gives a nice, clear, expansive sound, very open sounding, and great for slide. Strumming all 6 strings openly plays, as the name implies, a D5 chord, or D Power Chord. Reach this tuning by tuning the 6th string down a full step, the 3rd string down 5 half-steps, the 2nd string up 3 half-steps, and the 1st string down one full step.

A variation on this tuning is to tune the 3rd strong from G up to A, instead of down to D. This gives the tuning a fifth in two different octaves, adding some depth to the sound at the expense of losing the middle octave double-drone on the D string(s).

Ostrich Tuning - D-D-d-d-d’-d’

In Ostrich tuning, all of the strings are tuned to the same note, creating a giant drone machine. Lou Reed created this tuning during his stay with the Velvet Underground. NOTE: you’ll most definately need a custom set of strings for this one!

New Standard Tuning - C-G-d-a-e’-g’

From wikipedia:

“This is a tuning devised by Robert Fripp of King Crimson, used by most Guitar Craft students around the world. The tuning is similar to all fifths except the first string is dropped from b’ to g’. Some guitarists maintain that the term ‘New Standard Tuning’ is a misnomer and consider it to be a source of controversy, but the name appears to have stuck due the absence of viable alternative designations. Time will tell whether the tuning is in fact accepted outside of GC as a viable all-purpose tuning.”

All Fourths - E-A-d-g-c’-f’

All Fourths tuning is similar to standard tuning, or at least the the lowest four strings of standard tuning. The kink of the B-string being a major third instead of a fourth is removed, and the 2nd string is tuned to C to retain an interval of fourth. This also means that the 1st string, in order to remain a fourth above the 2nd string, is tuned to F. Because of the consistency of intervals across the fretboard, chords can simply be moved up, down or across the fretboard, but this means that full 6-string barre chords are no longer possible in the traditional sense.

All Fifths - C-G-d-a-e’-b’

All Fifths tuning is a 6-string adaption of violin tuning. The increased range of this tuning means you’ll need custom strings: extra heavy on the bottom, and extra light on the top.

All Minor Thirds - C-D#-F#-A-c-d#

This tuning lowers the range of your guitar quite a bit, but might be neat to use if you’re really going for a minor feel.

All Majors Thirds - C-E-G#-c-e-g#

This tuning splits the guitar into two identical halves, a C-F-G# on the 4th, 5th and 6th strings, and an identical set-up, though an octave higher, on the 3rd, 2nd and 1st strings.

All Augmented Fourths - C-F#-c-f#-c’-f#’

The augmented fourth, being exactly one half of an octave, means that in this tuning, every other string is one octave higher. For example, the 4th string is one octave higher than the 6th, and the 2nd string is one octave higher than the 4th… same for the 1st, 3rd and 5th strings.

All Minor Sixths - C-G#-E-C-G#-E

The same words of caution apply here as for the All Fifths tuning: don’t try this with your regular set of strings. Even more important here!

All Major Sixths - C-A-F#-D#-C-A

See above. Times two!

Well?

What do you think? Have any of you tried any of the more exotic tunings here? I’ve tried quite a few myself, and they’re certainly interesting to mess around with once in a while… it’d be nice if I had a few dozen guitars, though, so I could keep one in each tuning all the time!

Let me know in the comments if you have any experience or expertise in this area, and stay tuned all week for even more alternate tunings.

(Photo Credit)

This post is tagged Alternate Tunings, Drop Tunings, Experimentation, Regular Tunings, Standard Tuning, Tunings