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4-String - Best Open Tuning?

I have a 4-string CBG that is currently tuned to open D (DADF#). I see the barre chords are easily done but am having trouble finding a C chord that isn't so high (barre is on 10th fret - correct?). The C chords I have found don't sound quite right (1 string 1st fret, 2nd string second fret, third string third fret). Minors are also a challenge. All of the chord charts for open D seem to use the bottom strings a lot (A and D) so the 4-string thing is befuddling me.

Does open G have the same challenges?

Thanks,

BB

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Permalink Reply by Keni Lee Burgess on November 4, 2010 at 9:31am

Yes, this would be open G (Dgbd). Actually any configuration that contains the 1,3,5 from the major scale will offer a system of moveable chords. You mentioned two of the three most popular approaches. 5135 (DGBD) and 1513 (DADF#) The 3rd is 1351 (DF#AD). Thanks for sharing. Enjoy.

Barry Lampke said:

Hmmm, i think you can tune DGBE like a reg guitar and just change the high E to a D and have an open G as well - correct? It does seem that a small instrument like a CBG gives a nice mellow tone from using the lower strings - I have noticed that I like the DADF# - perhaps because I'm used to playing the mandolin...

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Permalink Reply by Barry Lampke on November 5, 2010 at 1:11pm

Thanks for chord suggestions! I have managed a C chord by using

- 1st finger on second fret lower D string,
- 2nd finger on 2nd fret for the other D string, and
- 3rd finger on 3rd fret for A string and
- muting the F# string.

Is this a decent fake for a C chord?

For an Em chord, I found this:

- 1st finger on 1st fret on the F# string
- 2nd finger on 2nd fret on lower D string
- 3rd finger on 2nd fret on A string
- 4th finger on 2nd fret on other D string

Please let me know if these work. Now I am search of an Am!

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Permalink Reply by Keni Lee Burgess on November 5, 2010 at 11:29pm

Here is a link to open g chords to start you off:
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://alanhorvath.com/images/G...
Please check out my CD5 for 4 string CBG (www.ebay.com / search: keni lee)
I think you will find it quite a comprehensive study of open g CBG. Enjoy.

Barry Lampke said:

Thanks for chord suggestions! I have managed a C chord by using

- 1st finger on second fret lower D string,
- 2nd finger on 2nd fret for the other D string, and
- 3rd finger on 3rd fret for A string and
- muting the F# string.

Is this a decent fake for a C chord?

For an Em chord, I found this:

- 1st finger on 1st fret on the F# string
- 2nd finger on 2nd fret on lower D string
- 3rd finger on 2nd fret on A string
- 4th finger on 2nd fret on other D string

Please let me know if these work. Now I am search of an Am!

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Permalink Reply by Barry Lampke on November 6, 2010 at 1:57am

I am trying these in DADF#. Am I way off?

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Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on November 6, 2010 at 8:54am

hey man dont let these guys sell u on another tuning, u gotta tackle one tuning at a time for where u are at. I dont really see why u guys think a 2nd tuning is gonna help??? The 'C' chord u have worked out there should be working fine, but what u really want to do is either detune the entire instrument by 2 steps (drop every string by 2 notes, so the intervallic relationship between ur strings remains the same) or transpose the tune to the key of D.

If in the chart where it says C u just play a D that ought to be a lot easier no?? this means u gotta raise all the other chords by the same 2 fret differential to keep the tune the same. Try that../.

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Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on November 6, 2010 at 8:58am

Barry Lampke said:

Thanks for chord suggestions! I have managed a C chord by using

- 1st finger on second fret lower D string,
- 2nd finger on 2nd fret for the other D string, and
- 3rd finger on 3rd fret for A string and
- muting the F# string.

Is this a decent fake for a C chord?

For an Em chord, I found this:

- 1st finger on 1st fret on the F# string
- 2nd finger on 2nd fret on lower D string
- 3rd finger on 2nd fret on A string
- 4th finger on 2nd fret on other D string

Please let me know if these work. Now I am search of an Am!

u are really close with ur chords ur working out, good stuff. Ur C chord really wants a 'G' note, so u need to free up ur first finger to fret the 1st string at the 1st fret. A minor is almost the same as C but u wanna trade that G u just made for an A. In order to fret the 1st string at the 3rd fret u will have to swap ur fingers around to free up ur 4th finger...

ur doing great

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Permalink Reply by Keni Lee Burgess on November 6, 2010 at 11:19am

Hello Barry,
I thought you were working in open G. That is why I suggested the chord page. I am not trying to sell you another tuning. I play using DADf# but only the lower three strings on a 3 string (DAD). I will be posting a series of lessons soon for playing chords on 3 string tuned ADf#. So, you will find this very applicable with a D(ADf#) tuning on a 4 string. Sorry for any confusion.

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Permalink Reply by Barry Lampke on November 6, 2010 at 11:24am

It's all good - no problem at all. There's nowhere else I can get the thoughtful and helpful responses on this stuff - especially for a 4-string CBG! Keni Lee - I know I should be learning the theory but I'm not there yet! In the meantime, thanks for helping me through the basic chords.

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Permalink Reply by frank tennyson on July 12, 2015 at 12:25pm

Travis Woodall has a good intro vid for ADF# tuning.

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Permalink Reply by Fat Knuckle Freddy on July 14, 2015 at 2:32am

Hello. I'm new to the site. I've been wanting to do it for years. Your C chord is built on the 3rd string third fret (c note root) 2 string 2nd fret (E note) 1st string first fret (G note). Looks like an F chord on standard guitar. With the above fingering, your minor is like an F minor chord move E back 1 fret.Your minors have a a little tough fingering off the 4th string root but easier on the 3rd string root. I use 3 tunings on my 4 CBG. I use the bottom 4 strings of a guitar, not the top four. Tunings, low to high, DADA (my favorite), DADF#, EAEA. I hope I answered the question. Cheers!

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Permalink Reply by emlas on July 21, 2015 at 8:03pm

DAdf# is a great tuning. There are many songs you can learn from youtube tutorials in that tuning. The DAdf# are a part of the open six string tuning DADf#ad, also called vestapol tuning. Here are a couple of youtube links:

Jesus is on the mainline:

https://youtu.be/tLfYObWbUHg

Nobody´s fault but mine:

https://youtu.be/Fc1QCEiRGWc

I´ve added a chord chart. I hope this is what you´re looking for and I hope they are correct.

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