Alternate Guitar Tunings

Most new guitarists are overly suspicious of alternate guitar tunings.

The major stumbling block is the need to re-tune the guitar which can be a pain. This is especially true for new guitarists who have enough trouble tuning the guitar to standard tuning.

Before we get started I better point out that standard tuning is E-A-D-G-B-E.

Alternate guitar tunings tend to be named for a variety of reasons.

Open tunings are normally called after the chord which sounds when you play the open strings (open D tuning is D-A-D-G-A-D).

Sometimes tunings are named after the instrument that tunes the same way and sometimes tunings are just pick up names (think of Drop D tuning.There are also several tunings named after the songs that inspired them)

Advantages of alternate guitar tunings

The most obvious advantage is that with different pitches on the open strings we have a whole new variety of sounds and chords we can use to express ourselves.

It's really a lot of fun playing around with different riffs that were impossible before and for a lot of guitarists playing alternate tunings is the first time they come across the concept of modes.

Also, in some cases songs may be very difficult to play in standard tuning. Once you start using internet tabs (especially guitar pro tabs) you'll notice that some tabs are impossible to play because your fingers are not made of rubber.

The reason for this is the songs were probably originally written and played in alternate guitar tuning. The tab has been transcribed into standard tuning. I have to admit I sometimes wonder if people do this on purpose to frustrate beginners.

The same holds true for a lot of simple chord songs. If you ever come across chords progressions like D, D/C, D/B, D/A or A, A/G, A/F#, A/F you should suspect an open chord Celtic Guitar type of tuning.

Chord progressions like the ones above can be played in an open tuning using just one finger to change the bass note. In standard tuning playing the same progression requires all four fingers and sometimes the thumb!

Disadvantages of alternate guitar tunings

There are no real disadvantage to alternate tunings. It really comes down to whether you feel it's worth re-tuning your guitar for a particular sound or song.

I'll be honest and admit I'm pretty lazy when it comes to using alternate tunings.

I'd recommend if you want to learn something in an alternate tuning make sure to learn a few songs so at least you won't be tuning up and down for just one song or solo. Most guitarists who do play alternate tunings tend to concentrate on only one tuning at a time until they get it right.

Also, I find having to re-learn the chords is a pain especially when you are in the habit of playing a cetain way. It's hard to break the association between a chord name on paper and what your fingers do. Getting around this problem is just a matter of breaking a habit.

Drop D tuning is a pretty common alternate guitar tuning. It is widely used in both rock and heavy metal music.

The Drop D tuning is formed by lowering the pitch of the Low E string by a one full tone so that when played open it sounds a D note instead of E. The rest of the strings on the guitar are left in standard tuning.

Using this tuning has several advantages. First off, it make power chords (a favourite for grungers and heavy metal guitarists) easier to play.

Acoustic guitarists, especially fingerpickers, have a very differnet reason for using this tuning.

The key of D is a very common tuning in music. The lowest D note in standard tuning is the open 4th string. This sucks as a bass note.

By tuning to Drop D the lowest bass note now becomes the D on the tuned down Low E string. This is one octave lower than than the note we could previously use. making it a great bass note for finger picking guitar.

Chords in dropped D tuning are formed as they are in standard tuning, with the exception of the sixth string, which is either omitted or fretted one step higher.