I know that GDGB is a popular tuning for the 4 string (or whatever equivalent in other keys). If you've ever tried to play slide in this tuning you may have run into a few problems. For your consideration.....
The top string is the one that you play most of your melodies on, when it's tuned to the major third you've got a problem. Slide players are constantly trying to find ways to avoid the thing, you don't put it on the all important top string. And you can't play around with the major/minor third tension if it's on the open string.
One of the great things about slide playing is that it's linear. You can play a melody by moving your slide up and down on one string and so you get a physical and visual sense of the melody as it rises and falls. As most of your melody playing is on the top string surely it makes sense to tune it to the tonic and have your scale mapped out from open to octave where you'll be resolving most of the time.
Your melodies will use the tonic note more than any other. Why would you put it up on the 8th fret and force your melodies to pivot around this very unfriendly part of the neck? The note on the second string up there would be the b6, you don't want to be playing those two together.
Even if you're not playing slide it's still handy to have that linear sense of your melody on the top string and with the 3 down an octave you don't have the big gap between the 1 and the 5 at the bottom end. I know that many people will use the 1 and 5 down there for their 'power chords' but you lose so much everywhere else and you can get the same result by playing in the third position.
Vestapol tuning puts the 1 on the top, Spanish tuning has the 5 on the top, I prefer the 1 but you can work with the 5, it's a big strong note with a similar function to the 1. The 1 lines up with the 6 on the second string and this can be useful, certainly not dangerous. If you're trying to play a tune originally played in either of these tunings, and most will be, you'll have to do something about this pesky third on top.
I remember working as a trainee in IT many years ago and would often ask questions about why things were done in a certain way and a regular response was 'histerical reasons', a play on 'historical reasons', with the obvious undertone. I suspect the popularity of this GDGB tuning may have more to do with that than anything actually useful.
I'm not trying to start a fight here so please don't take any of this personally.
Tags:
Interesting. Just to clarify, are you suggesting 1351 or Vestapol and 5135 for Spanish? I'm going to have to give this a try.
I prefer 1351, the top 4 on vestapol. 5135 could be worth a shot too although the 5 on the bass presents its own challenges. Even 1135 with the bottom string way down an octave might be worth a try.
True. I guess I struggle in a world being where being able to 'dumbly strum through the lot' is an advantage.
And I get your point about picking up the telecaster, that's why I dig the 3 string, it's a whole different beast.
Started by J. D. Woods in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by Southern Ray on Friday. 8 Replies 1 Like
Started by Southern Ray in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Southern Ray on Friday. 6 Replies 0 Likes
Started by J. D. Woods in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by BrianQ. on Thursday. 4 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Rich Butters in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Crazed Fandango Apr 22. 4 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Nomad Jack in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by J. D. Woods Apr 17. 7 Replies 2 Likes
Started by Moritz Voegeli in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 14. 6 Replies 2 Likes
Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Apr 10. 14 Replies 3 Likes
Started by Tom T in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 9. 9 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Southern Ray in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 4. 7 Replies 1 Like
Started by Timothy Hunter in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 27. 1 Reply 2 Likes
Started by Taffy Evans in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 10. 1 Reply 3 Likes
Started by Cigar Box Nation in Feature Articles. Last reply by BrianQ. Mar 9. 4 Replies 3 Likes
Started by Ghostbuttons in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 9. 5 Replies 1 Like
Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 8. 6 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Ken I in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Brian partington Mar 8. 8 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Southern Ray in Cool gear discussion - that's not cigar box related. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 6. 5 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Taffy Evans in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 5. 4 Replies 2 Likes
Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Carl Floyd Mar 1. 15 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Joe in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by Carl Floyd Feb 29. 13 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Chance in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 22. 12 Replies 1 Like
Posted by Vlad on March 31, 2024 at 11:48pm 0 Comments 1 Like
Posted by Vlad on March 6, 2024 at 2:32am 5 Comments 2 Likes
Posted by billy jones bluez on February 28, 2024 at 2:09pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Posted by billy jones bluez on February 17, 2024 at 11:00pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Posted by Vlad on February 11, 2024 at 1:06am 1 Comment 1 Like
May 11, 2024 from 11am to 8pm – Speakeasy Grill
0 Comments 0 LikesMay 30, 2024 from 6:30pm to 10pm – The Casual Pint of Huntsville
0 Comments 0 Likes© 2024 Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker. Powered by
Cigar Box Nation is presented by C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply, your one-stop-shop for Cigar Box Guitar parts and accessories!