Learning songs in open d

[Tim Popp]

I am currently waiting on my first lap steel with benders. I don’t have a whole lot of musical background as far as playing goes. I see Troy Brenningmeyer has a lot of lessons in open D with the benders and Andy Volk’s book on open d is a good resource, both which I plan on pursuing. However I notice there really isn’t much for tabs in open d. When I get the basics of the instrument down and I want to try and play a particular song I have in mind, how do I do that without tabs or sheet music in open d? I guess I’m looking for the idiots guide to that process or wondering if I’d be better off in a different tuning. Thanks!

[HowardR]

The D tuning and the G tuning have the same intervals on 4 of their 6 six strings......

For example,......strings 1-4 in G are the exact same intervals as strings 2-5 in D tuning.......the scales and patterns are in the same positions, just 1 string up.........if you are playing a scale beginning on string 1 in G, you would play the same thing starting on string 2 in D ........so, you can obtain a huge amount of instructional material in G, and then apply it to D, keeping this in mind........

[Greg Forsyth]

Very helpful info, Howard.

[Tim Popp]

Yes thank you Howard, that is very helpful.

[HowardR]

Here is what the intervals look like....

G-1 B-3 D-5 G-1 B-3 D-5

D-1 A-5 D-1 F#-3 A-5 D-1

1 3 5 1 3 5
1 5 1 3 5 1

[Stephen Cowell]

(snip)
1 3 5 1 3 5

High-bass G or 'dobro'

1 5 1 3 5 1

Low-bass D or Sebastopol:
"Origin of the Name: The name "Vestapol" (or "Sebastopol") is derived from a popular 19th-century guitar instrumental piece called "Sebastopol" (a port on the Black Sea, the scene of a pivotal engagement in the Crimean War)."

Missed you in Dallas Howard!

[Tim Popp]

Thanks again Howard. I just joined this forum this week and grateful it’s here. A wealth of information and good folks.

[HowardR]

Missed you in Dallas Howard!

It looked like a good show......I miss seeing old friends as well........and we are officially old