alternate tuning
Question:
Before I learned to play guitar, I thought that it was sooo hard. I was almost scared of learning it. So, my stepdad tuned his Gibson to an open E chord. I quickly learned how to do basic progressions by barring my index finger. A week later he tuned it back and showed me the basic forms for C and F and told me to practice until I could shift smoothly. I thought myself from then on and I’m still learnin’. The fact is, I probably wouldn’t be playing if he hadn’t done that. It just gave me the chance to sorta familiarize myself with a guitar, and step up to the plate so to speak. I would not avoid an alternate tuning like the plague, but, I would not get tooo used to it either. Use it for fun and move on. -Joel — "I judge a woman solely by the size and shape of her nostrils." -Weird Al
Response:
While I agree with the conventional wisdom of learning to play in standard, then moving on to alternate tunings, there are exceptions. Check this out: I have a friend who never learned how to play in standard tuning. He learned in "vestubah" tuning (or something like that) which is actually open E. While there are many stories I’d love to tell, the end result is that after hearing him one time (and he’s beyond killer), this group hired him on the spot. As far as I know, he’s still on the road with The Mighty Clouds Of Joy, legends in black gospel. OK, 1 story. While in a music store in Nashville, TN checking out some guitars, he was sitting down playing hunched over the amp (you know). He felt some people walk up behind him and listening. He turned around and one of the guys complimented him on being such a good player. It was Steve Vai, one of his heroes. And this guy can barely play in standard tuning. In case you ever hear his name, it’s Alton Hollis. I used to play with him in a small black country church and he always dropped my jaw. nate MAY GOD RICHLY BLESS YOU!!! http://community.webtv.net/nathan450/NatesCornucopia
Response:
> << Has > anybody tried these gimmicks, if so what do you think about them. >> > The first two aren’t really gimmicks, just ways to make playing fun until you > get better at guitar. I highly recommend avoiding the last gimmick like the > plague.
Good advice IMO. Alternate tunings such as DADGAD and others are a great tool, especially if you have an interest in fingerstyle, Celtic, slide, etc. But it can become an alluring trap to the beginner. If you ignore the fundamentals of playing in favor of being able to "jump start" your ability to crank out a tune, you really will be hamstringing yourself in the long run I think. I feeling is that you’d be much better off to learn the basics and consider open or alternate tunings something fun to play with later. To me, it’s similar to beginners discovering FX. Too much of a good thing initially is like a meal of desserts with no meat and potatoes. Not very filling ultimately. Mike – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> — > mike anderson > www.mp3.com/mikeanderson <– 5 new demos/updates being uploaded now > Nobody wants to hear the truth about their heroes, > all they want are the action figures.
Response:
I think people should learn to play normally, and not to "cheat" using easy tunings. After they have the general drift of things then they can do different tunings. daniel
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I’m a beginner. I’ve seen several books and tapes which profess to teach you > to play guitar quickly. One sez use only the 1,2,3 stings for easy chords, > another sez 1,2,3,4 strings. The most radical one I saw sez use 1,2,3,4 tuned > to D,F#,A,D, and all of the chords are basically just hold your finger across > the fret for major chords and finger 2 one sttring higher for minors. Has > anybody tried these gimmicks, if so what do you think about them. > Eric
Response:
I’m a beginner. I’ve seen several books and tapes which profess to teach you to play guitar quickly. One sez use only the 1,2,3 stings for easy chords, another sez 1,2,3,4 strings. The most radical one I saw sez use 1,2,3,4 tuned to D,F#,A,D, and all of the chords are basically just hold your finger across the fret for major chords and finger 2 one sttring higher for minors. Has anybody tried these gimmicks, if so what do you think about them. Eric
Response:
<< Has anybody tried these gimmicks, if so what do you think about them. >> The first two aren’t really gimmicks, just ways to make playing fun until you get better at guitar. I highly recommend avoiding the last gimmick like the plague. — mike anderson www.mp3.com/mikeanderson <– 5 new demos/updates being uploaded now Nobody wants to hear the truth about their heroes, all they want are the action figures.
Response:
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