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Topic: The Open G Tunings |
Stephen Abruzzo
From:
Philly, PA
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Posted 2 May 2010 9:15 am |
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This is for anyone who plays in both Dobro G (G-B-D-G-B-D) and Low Open G (D-G-D-G-B-D). How do you approach these tunings with their slight differences on the bottom 2 strings..OR..do they force/nudge you into certain styles of playing because of the difference?
Just a guy lookin' for a little direction.
Thanks. |
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John Groover McDuffie
From:
LA California, USA
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Posted 2 May 2010 10:15 am
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The main thing I notice is that with the "low bass" open G tuning you give up the 6th intervals that are there on strings 3 & 5 with the "high bass" tuning.
I think the low bass tuning is more suited to blues/bottleneck style playing, especially when you want to thump on the roots with your thumb for self-accompaniment. The high bass tuning is, IMHO, more suited to melodic or "lead" playing in a wide range of styles including but not limited to bluesy stuff. |
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Steinar Gregertsen
From:
Arendal, Norway, R.I.P.
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Posted 2 May 2010 10:22 am
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| John Groover McDuffie wrote: |
I think the low bass tuning is more suited to blues/bottleneck style playing, especially when you want to thump on the roots with your thumb for self-accompaniment. The high bass tuning is, IMHO, more suited to melodic or "lead" playing in a wide range of styles including but not limited to bluesy stuff. |
Sums it up pretty well, that's how I approach them too.
_________________
"Play to express, not to impress"
Website - YouTube |
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 2 May 2010 11:44 am
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Same here. I tend to use high G strictly for dobro pretty, folksy and bluegrass stuff while alternating fairly equally between open G and open D for edgier blues and rock tunes.
Actually, I could just do without the low D in the open G tuning on slide. |
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John Groover McDuffie
From:
LA California, USA
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Posted 2 May 2010 1:33 pm
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| Jerry Overstreet wrote: |
Actually, I could just do without the low D in the open G tuning on slide. |
The "Kief" Richards open G! |
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Peter Lindelauf
From:
Penticton, BC
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Posted 2 May 2010 1:57 pm
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Would that be Keith ("I'm happy to be here! I'm happy to be *anywhere!*) Richards?
Haven't tried the GBDGBD tuning before. Good idea, whoever came up with that variation.
_________________
...but you are the music / while the music lasts (TS Eliot) |
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 2 May 2010 2:28 pm
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| John Groover McDuffie wrote: |
| Jerry Overstreet wrote: |
Actually, I could just do without the low D in the open G tuning on slide. |
The "Kief" Richards open G! |
Yep, that's one of Keef's tunings all right. I can see why he chose to just eliminate the 6th string on that tuning. 
Yes Peter, Keith Richards of the RS. |
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Peter Lindelauf
From:
Penticton, BC
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Posted 3 May 2010 4:17 am
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Thanks but knew that, Jerry. Just adding the 'anywhere' nickname. Think that came from when he played Sheryl Crow's Live in Central Park show. Hadn't heard the Kief or Keef nickname before, though. No doubt derived from 'kif.'
_________________
...but you are the music / while the music lasts (TS Eliot) |
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D Schubert
From:
Columbia, MO, USA
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Posted 3 May 2010 5:27 am
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I like hi-bass G for bluegrass and classic country, and for playing with a larger group. Prefer lo-bass for blues, solo-duo-trio settings.
IMHO, two big advantages for the lo-bass tuning are (1) with no 3rd note in the lower strings, you can get a big bass grip that works over major or minor chords, and (2) it is easier to toggle over to other tunings like D, D6/Bm7, etc. as needed.
Biggest disadvantage is that you lose the chord inversion with the high root on the 3rd-4th-5th strings, and all of the harmonized scales that go with it. |
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John Groover McDuffie
From:
LA California, USA
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Posted 3 May 2010 10:22 am
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Makes a 7 string guitar seem kind of appealing, doesn't it?  |
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Peter Jacobs
From:
Northern Virginia
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Posted 4 May 2010 5:58 am
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I've been using Keef tuning for long time, so I can get those big 1-5-1 grips for rock and blues (also great for faking minor chords). I add a C on top so I can do suspended chords.
I have a reso that I keep in high bass G, because I feel like I'm "supposed to". The low B messes me up -- I almost never use it. Also, when I tune down the lower 2 strings, that .056 G string gets too loose, and I haven't changed it out for something bigger.
_________________
Peter
---------
www.splinterville.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@splinterville6278/videos |
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Stephen Abruzzo
From:
Philly, PA
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Posted 6 May 2010 6:16 am
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| Thanks to all. No matter which version of G you play...you can lots of nice bluesy runs going. |
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Jim Mathis
From:
Overland Park, Kansas, USA
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Posted 6 May 2010 1:36 pm
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Peter,
That brings up the question, if you use low bass tuning, do you change string gauges?
_________________
Jim@MathisPhoto.net |
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 6 May 2010 2:38 pm
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I can't speak for Peter, but I use the same set. Reg dobro G set for high g, low g, open D, E etc., because I retune the same guitar[s] to different tunings.
The 6th string is a mite loose on open G and D, but you learn not to lean on it heavily. |
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Peter Jacobs
From:
Northern Virginia
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Posted 7 May 2010 5:53 am
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Jim, Jerry - I use these gauges, low to high (22.5" scale):
G: .052w
D: .036w
G: .026w
B: .022w
D: .018
C: .018
The 52 for the low G sometimes is a little loose feeling -- I haven't tried a 54 or 56 yet, becaue I don't want the bass to overwhelm everything else. It may take some playing around with the pickup height to balance everything. For the high strings, I keep them the same jsut to make it easier to buy single strings (I can get one 12-pack of 18's to make 6 sets).
On reso, I find the 56 bass string is very sloppy sounding if I tune it down to G. I'd need to get a 58 or 59 to make that work better, but I haven't gotten around to it yet.
_________________
Peter
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www.splinterville.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@splinterville6278/videos |
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