Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on November 3, 2016 at 4:29pm

Try A-D-F#

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on November 4, 2016 at 6:01pm

Allows you to use shapes your fingers already know, and play majors and minors.

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Permalink Reply by John on November 4, 2016 at 6:22pm

Does anyone know of a visual chart that shows the chords for this tuning? It sounds interesting! :)

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Permalink Reply by John Sawyer on November 4, 2016 at 6:35pm

Here are chord charts for DAD...

CigarBox101%203%20string%20chords%20DAd%20tuning.pdf

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Permalink Reply by Cause the Blue rat on November 3, 2016 at 11:41pm

I guess that's the starting point for CBG players. There are many different tunings you can use. Not just the different keys. But tunings within each key. Each tuning creates opportunities for unique cord variations within each key played. If you like the sounds and variations of G, B, D then go for it. 

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Permalink Reply by Jim Morris on November 4, 2016 at 1:01am

All good answers so far but my reason for liking GDg is a little different. I don't want to get into too much music theory but G,B,D gives you a nice open G chord which includes the 3rd of the chord (B) Power chords don't include that note and have a different sound which can be heard as either major or minor since the 3rd is what makes that determination:. G,B,D is G major - G,Bb,D is G minor. So, if you want to play a minor chord using G,B,D tuning you need to figure out that chord's fingering. With G,D,G you simply use one finger or a slide across the proper fret and the the chord can be either major or minor and the context of the tune let's the ear hear it as such. See some of Glenn Watt's one finger tutorials to see how this works. As a banjo player G,B,D is comfortable for me since that's the top 3 strings on banjo but I often change tuning on banjo to suit a particular tune. It comes down to personal preference and what your ear likes to hear but I'm a firm believer in using several tunings to achieve different sounds. That is, unless you're just learning to play, and then I think it best to stick with one tuning until you get comfortable with it. I hope that helps without adding too much confusion!

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Permalink Reply by James Conder on November 4, 2016 at 1:05am

Thanks, that's what I was wondering, the difference between the two.

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Permalink Reply by Fomhorach on November 4, 2016 at 10:49pm

It's all a bit open to interpretation and whatnot.

I keep dropping my middle string down 2 notes and back up again, reversing which string the 5th and the 4th  tuning is allocated to. It depends on which two strings I want to drone or play together as 4ths. This opens up more of the fretboard to solo with as you now have a longer amount of notes to play with to reach either your octave or notes that can be repeated on the other strings.

I've tried tunings where the top and bottom are not equal with mixed results. Yup you can get those chords but switching back to the 4ths and 5ths is problematic in general playing. It also takes more time to get the tuning correct because it's harder sometimes to find harmonic reference points on the fretboard. 

I presume this would also be a similar problem with fretless instruments. It's handy if you have a couple of instruments, you can have octave tuning on one with the ability to switch 4ths and 5ths on the middle string with the other guitar being a choice exotic tuning with the same middle string option. This would give 4 quick change referenced tunings in a matter of seconds between each song with no major hassles. 

I hope this all makes sense as this is now my 26th hour awake and I am waiting on my hangover to coincide with the sunlight.

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Permalink Reply by Rick Alexander on November 5, 2016 at 4:12am

 A-C#-e is a cool alternative to G-D-g, using the same strings. 

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Permalink Reply by JL on November 7, 2016 at 2:31am

G5 Open tuning (G-D-g) lets you do the 1 finger bar chord and play any song ignoring Major/Minor/7th variations on the chord, most songs are in the key of G major or have an easy to find transposition to G major, finally, Gitty has a set of fingering charts when you want to get advanced and play major/minor on a G5 tuned git.

But yes, lots of tuning options are available, G-D-bflat gives you open Gminor tuning and minor chords when you bar a fret, and fretting the high string 1 fret higher lets you play the major chord.

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